On November 26, a ten-month-old baby died in the emergency room in Agen. While there were suspicions of measles, the results of the analyzes show that it is not in question. The child died of a severe infection leading to septic shock.
The ten-month-old baby, who died at the Agen-Nérac hospital on November 26, did not have measles. This is what the establishment affirms in a press release, published in order to announce the results of analyzes carried out on the child. According to the hospital center, the latter “are in favor of a severe infection resulting in septic shock, causing the death of the infant”. In addition to the trail of measles, that of contagion is also ruled out.
On November 23, the baby is treated in the emergency room. The medical team suspects a case of measles. After a period of observation, with no signs of seriousness, the family returned home. Three days later, the infant’s condition suddenly worsens. The parents return to the emergency room and their baby dies a few hours later. Subsequent investigations were therefore carried out.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Even if the child did not die of measles, it is important to remember what the signs of the disease are. Because the number of cases has tripled since the beginning of the year in the world. In question: the decline in vaccination. First, measles is viral in origin, rash and highly contagious. It follows a precise chronology. First the incubation phase, which lasts between 10 and 12 days and during which no signs appear but the virus multiplies. Then, the phase of invasion: for three to four days, the patient has a fever, red eyes, coughs, has a runny nose and feels tired. The rash comes suddenly around the 15th day. Pink spots appear behind the ears, then descend on the face, the trunk, then the whole body.
Complications that can cause death
To date, there is no specific treatment to cure measles. Doctors prescribe drugs to act on the symptoms, such as paracetamol for fever, for example. If there are no complications, the patient will recover on his own and will be immune for life.
On the other hand, if the infected person is fragile – a child or a person with weakened immune defenses – there is a risk of infection, in particular of the lung. These complications can lead to lifelong pulmonary and neurological sequelae, or even lead to death. The only way to avoid measles is to get vaccinated. In France, the vaccine is not mandatory but recommended for infants.
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