Complications
Early in the illness pulmonary involvement with measles virus is common (1% to 6%) and can be devastating in children in developing countries.[2] Later in the course of illness, bacterial superinfection with common bacterial pathogens is the more likely cause of pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics.
Otitis media occurs in about 7% to 9% of those with measles and can be treated as usual with appropriate antibiotics.[2] It is often a bacterial otitis media that is a superinfection following measles infection.
Encephalitis occurs in about 1 in 1000 people with measles infection.[12] A minority of these individuals may suffer long-term sequelae.
SSPE occurs in approximately 4 to 11 per 100,000 cases of measles and is a rare fatal neurologic disorder occurring about 7 to 10 years after natural measles infection, possibly as a result of persistent measles infection within the central nervous system.[45] It is more common in those who have been infected at age 2 years.[21] Onset is insidious and disease progresses from abnormal behaviors and postures to dementia, coma, and death.[12]
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