What is smallpox, how contagious and dangerous are they: Smallpox starts behind the ear and then spreads to the extremities

Smallpox (measles) is one of the most contagious diseases, and only one infected person will transmit the virus to 12-18 susceptible people. A person is considered susceptible if he has not been vaccinated or has not recovered from smallpox.

Epidemiologist Milena Popović Samardžić stated this on her Facebook profile after smallpox cases appeared in the region.

She explains that smallpox is a respiratory infection that is transmitted by direct contact and through the air - particles containing the virus are thrown out by coughing, sneezing, and speaking.

"Those particles, which we then inhale, remain in the air for up to two hours. It is enough to pass through a corridor or a closed space where an infected person was, and who still does not know or recognize it, because the person is contagious four days before and four days after the outbreak of smallpox, and to inhale these particles that contain the virus. The virus is found in the nose and throat, so testing is done by swabbing the throat and nasopharynx, as with covid. In addition, the doctor will take blood as would determine the level of IgM antibodies, which he will most likely repeat twice," explained Popović Samardžić.

Measles is characteristic.

"Red, flat changes that start on the face and behind the ear, then spread to the trunk and extremities in the following days. Measles is preceded by a runny nose, high fever, coughing, conjunctivitis (red and watery eyes)".

Popović Samardžić points out that smallpox is the most dangerous for children under the age of five because at that age they cause the most complications, which occur in 30 percent of infected children.

"The most common complications are severe ear infections, severe pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and a condition that develops 7-25 years after measles infection that causes certain death is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a severe condition of brain inflammation," warns the epidemiologist.

He adds that before the introduction of vaccines, frequent cyclic measles epidemics claimed as many as 2,6 million lives per year, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"After the introduction of the MMR vaccine, the number of deaths decreased by 73 percent in the period from 2000 to 2018. It was estimated that 23,2 million deaths were prevented by vaccination against measles during this period. However, the effects of vaccination with the MMR vaccine depend on encompassing. Thanks to vaccination, the number of deaths from measles fell from 1.070.000 in 2000 to 60.700 in 2020, according to the WHO".

What is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis usually develops seven to 25 years after a previous measles infection, and the disease is fatal, accompanied by progressive brain damage in a person who previously had completely normal development and led a healthy life.

"It is characterized by mental and intellectual deterioration, convulsions of the whole body, generalized convulsions. It begins insidiously, unnoticed. Forgetfulness, mood changes, insomnia are the first signs that are followed by convulsions, generalized convulsions of the whole body. Weak ability to speak, intellectual functions slowly fade away." , stated Popović Samardžić.

In most cases, death occurs within one to three years.

"Thanks to vaccination, these complications of smallpox could rarely be seen. As vaccination coverage has been significantly reduced, everything that was the past can become our reality again".