5 Ways to Treat Measles

1. Isolate a Sick Child

Measles is highly contagious. Your child can pass measles on before you are even aware that he has it. Measles is contagious from 4 days before the rash develops to 4 days after. While your child is sick, it is important that you keep him away from other people, including nonimmunized family members. This may be difficult for you, but it is an important way of preventing measles from spreading.

2. Treat Your Child's Fever

There is not much you can do for measles. However, you can treat some of the symptoms. Fever is one of the most common symptoms. Give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help lower fever. Aspirin is not recommended, since it can increase your child's risk of developing Reye's syndrome.

3. Treat Secondary Infections

It is possible that your child will develop secondary infections, such as pneumonia or an ear infection. These can be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics will not improve the measles, however, since measles is caused by a virus. Your doctor might also recommend that your child get prescription doses of vitamin A.

4. Help Your Child Get Plenty of Rest

Rest is one of the best ways of dealing with your child's measles. Encourage your child to stay in bed and take it easy. Your child may also find that her eyes feel very tired. You can help by keeping the lights dim or offering sunglasses. If you find that this is a problem for your child, try to limit reading and television watching, since these activities can strain the eyes.

5. Keep Your Child Hydrated

The measles virus is often accompanied by fever and sweating. You can deal with these symptoms by making sure that your child stays hydrated to replace lost fluids. Offer your child water, juices, broth and herbal teas to keep him drinking.