MANILA -- If left untreated, serious complications from measles could be life-threatening, medical experts said on Wednesday.
Dr. Mario Panaligan, Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases president, said measles-stricken children and adults could suffer from serious complications if they remain untreated.
"Kahit bata o matanda, delikado ang komplikasyon ng tigdas, hindi kumo matanda ay mas mataas ang (Young or old, measles complications are dangerous, not because [you're] old [you'll] have higher) risk to have complications," he said in a health forum in Quezon City.
Panaligan said patients with fever usually experience pain in their throats which cause secretions to be stuck in the throat.
"So talagang tumataas ang chances na magkaroon ng pulmonya. May mga tao ring nabubulag... ang iba naman ay patulog-tulog dahil namamaga na rin kasi ang utak (the chances of having pneumonia go up, there are people who become blind... other people doze off because their brains are already swolen)," he added.
Philippine Pediatric Society president Salvacion Gathchalian, who is one of the forum panelists, said severe measles cases may also lead to Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE).
"This can be seen also in adults but this is more common among children who have measles less than two years (old). It can manifest seven, eleven years after the measles infection. There's an intellectual and behavioral deterioration and eventually namamatay, mataas ang (they die, there is high) percentage of death, mga 90 percent," she said.
Gatchalian urged parents to observe the schedule of measles vaccine for their children which start at nine months old and first dose of booster at 12 to 15 months and second dose at four to six years old.
Apart from vaccination, Gatchalian advised the public to wash thoroughly their hands, cover their mouths when coughing and stay at home when they are sick to avoid contracting measles. (PNA)
