Measles: IgM:
Why Measles IgMTest ?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Measles (or also called as Rubeola) virus belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. Measles (single stranded, negative sense, enveloped RNA virus) causes a highly infectious disease called as measles (also known as red measles). It is usually a childhood infection, which is highly contagious- airborne, and hence its mode of transmission can easily spread through cough and sneeze (respiratory droplets and small aerosol particles), contact with nasal secretions etc. Common symptoms are fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, inflamed eyes (with sensitivity to light) etc. Classical symptoms diagnosed with Measles are characterized as Triad (Three striking features: Hallmark for diagnosis) – 1. Barky Cough, 2. Coryza (runny nose) and 3. Conjunctivitis i.e red or bloodshot eyes with epiphora or watery eyes (and also includes red maculopapular rash on the skin). Typical Symptoms like Koplik’s spots (clustered white spots or lesions that appear on the buccal mucosa, inside the cheek adjacent to the molars are pathognomonic for measles) develop after two weeks (incubation period) of exposure. It is followed by flat red rashes that start on the face and spread (within 3 to 5 days) to the rest of the body. Risk factors for measles viral infection include – being unvaccinated, vertical transmission (from infected pregnant mother to fetus) usually ending up in miscarriage while nursing a child (infected mother breastfeeding her neonate), immunodeficiency (HIV or AIDS), patients with immuno-suppressants (following organ or stem cell transplant), patients with corticosteroid or alkylating agent therapy, travelling to endemic areas with measles etc. Complications caused by measles are measles-induced Immuno-suppression, pneumonia and otitis media - middle ear infection (secondary infections), croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) with a sore throat, diarrhoea etc. Chronic untreated measles can also sometimes lead to blindness (caused by corneal ulceration and scarring), inflammation of the bronchi, inflammation of the brain, seizures etc. Measles is preventable and hence children (under the age of 12 months i.e below 1 year) are needed to be vaccinated – MMR vaccine to prevent measles. Tests for measles include diagnosis of measles with antigen or antibody detection, RT-PCR etc. Test sample specimens include blood, urine, secretions from the nose and throat etc. A positive IgM test result may indicate the acute phase (primary infection) of measles infection.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: None.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
