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Reprinted with permission from www.ReportingSanDiego.com
By Nadin Abbott
Feb. 6, 2015 (La Mesa) Earlier in the day a patient came to Grossmont Hospital with what looked like measles. According to the twitter page the Emergency Room at 5555 Grossmont Center Drive was closed.
The ER is now open, and the patient has been put in isolation, this is per the hospital twitter feed.
Sharp HealthCare @sharphealthcare · 3 hrs hours ago
UPDATE: Sharp Grossmont’s emergency room is open and taking patients. The suspected case of measles has been quarantined. More info to come.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, that can start with what looks like a regular upper respiratory infection, with high fever, and will develop a characteristic skin rash within four days.
This is contagious and can spread to unvaccinated people even before symptoms present. According to the World Health Organization
Most measles-related deaths are caused by complications associated with the disease. Complications are more common in children under the age of 5, or adults over the age of 20. The most serious complications include blindness, encephalitis (an infection that causes brain swelling), severe diarrhea and related dehydration, ear infections that can cause deafness, or severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia. Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases.
It can be prevented with a vaccine. There are no antivirals to treat the disease, and only supportive care is used.
Health authorities recommend that if you suspect measles, to stay home, and call your medical provider or the San Diego Department of Public health at (866) 358-2966
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