Measles and Immunity

Measles and Immunity Posted By:
...

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness, currently targeted for eradication given the favorable biologic characteristic that humans are the only reservoir. However, due to social and political factors, as well as high transmissibility, elimination has been achieved in very few areas of the world. It remains a significant cause of death worldwide, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. The attack rate in a susceptible individual exposed to measles is 90%. Transmission is airborne as well as via person-to-person contact. Infected individuals are considered contagious from 4 days prior to rash onset until 4 days after rash eruption. Infectious droplets from respiratory secretions of a patient with measles can remain airborne for up to 2 hours. Therefore, the illness can be transmitted in public spaces, even in the absence of person-to-person contact.

Most people who contract the measles virus recover fully. Approximately 30% experience one or more complication. Some of these complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, are life-threatening. The risk of complications is higher in the following groups:

  • Children <5 years
  • Adults >20 years
  • Pregnant women, or those who have experienced pregnancy complications
  • Persons with a weakened immune system
  • Individuals who are malnourished
  • Persons with vitamin A deficiency
  • Blind persons
  • Individuals with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Natural measles infection is thought to confer lifelong immunity. Immunity due to vaccination is also highly protective against clinical infection. A recent study shows that measles can destroy between 20%-50% of an individual's disease-fighting antibodies, depleting their previous immunity and requiring their body to "relearn" how to protect itself against infection. The study details the mechanism and scope of this measles-induced "immune amnesia." By protecting against measles infection, the vaccine prevents the body from losing or "forgetting" its immune memory and preserves its resistance to other infections. These findings underscore the importance of obtaining measles vaccination, and suggests that those recently infected with measles may benefit from booster shots of all previous vaccines.

An estimated 120,000 deaths will be directly attributed to measles this year alone, and hundreds of thousands more will die from its long-term, immune-related effects. Given the availability and proven effectiveness of the measles vaccine, encouraging vaccination against the disease is a no-brainer.

References
  • Harvard Medical School. How measles wipes out the body's immune memory: study details the mechanism and scope of measles-induced immune amnesia in the wake of infection. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191031204630.htm . Accessed November 19, 2019.
  • Mina MJ, Kula T, Leng Y, Li M, et al. Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens. Science. 2019;366:599-606.

Share

Filed under: Infectious Diseases , Allergy/Immunology

Related
A Major Change in Asthma Management – Is This the Beginning of the End for SABAs?

A Major Change in Asthma Management – Is This th ...

The most recent updated Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines recommend that short-acting ...

Filed under: Preventive Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, NPs & PAs, Allergy/Immunology


Continue Reading
Phenotyping Patients With Severe Asthma: Check Those Biomarkers!

Phenotyping Patients With Severe Asthma: Check Tho ...

Asthma affected approximately 262 million people globally in 2019, and an estimated 5% to 10% of the ...

Filed under: Allergy/Immunology


Continue Reading
Improving Atopic Dermatitis Care

Improving Atopic Dermatitis Care

Facilitating Improvements in Transitions of Care in AD ManagementAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic ...

Filed under: Dermatology, NPs & PAs, Allergy/Immunology


Continue Reading
Trigger Avoidance as a Basic Element in Atopic Dermatitis Management

Trigger Avoidance as a Basic Element in Atopic Der ...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting millions of pediatric patients ...

Filed under: Dermatology, NPs & PAs, Allergy/Immunology


Continue Reading
Navigating Challenges in the Implementation of Early Peanut Introduction Guidelines

Navigating Challenges in the Implementation of Ear ...

In 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released guidelines advoc ...

Filed under: NPs & PAs, Allergy/Immunology


Continue Reading
JAK Inhibitors for the Management of Atopic Dermatitis

JAK Inhibitors for the Management of Atopic Dermat ...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease estimated to affect up to ...

Filed under: Allergy/Immunology, Dermatology


Continue Reading