Unfortunately, there isn’t a specific treatment that can be used to stop the virus. Available treatments are directed at taking care of the symptoms and any complications.
Severe complications from measles can be avoided though supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution (to replace fluids and other essential elements lost from diarrhoea or vomiting). Antibiotics should be prescribed to treat eye and ear infections, and pneumonia.
All children in developing countries diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart. This can help prevent eye damage and blindness. Vitamin A supplements have been shown to reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%.
Measles can be prevented with the measles vaccine (usually given in combination with rubella and mumps vaccines, called MMR vaccine), and is recommended for all children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at four to six years of age. If a person has not received a second dose of the vaccine between four to six years of age, it may be given at any age thereafter. The two doses of vaccine normally provide lifelong immunity.
Further Reading