Measles usually starts with symptoms which are similar to a cold. A few days later, a rash appears. Some people can get spots in their mouth and inside their cheeks, too. Other symptoms of the measles include a high temperature, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, as well as red, sore, and watery eyes. Measles is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. To reduce the risk of infection you should wash your hands regularly and avoid sharing a hairbrush or toothbrush as well as cutlery.

Girl: Good afternoon, Doctor.

Doctor: Good afternoon, Lizzie. What seems to be the matter?

Girl: Well, I haven’t been feeling well over the last three days. It started with a headache, so I took a painkiller, but it didn’t really help.

Doctor: Did you have a fever?

Girl: Hmm I don’t really know because I didn’t take my temperature.

Doctor: Let’s check it now… It’s 38.3, so it’s quite high.

Girl: Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling so weak and I’ve had muscle and joint pain.

Doctor: Yes, a fever can do it to you. Let me examine your chest and your neck. Hmmm. Have you had any pain while chewing or swallowing?

Girl: Yes, it started yesterday. I couldn’t really finish my dinner. It was so painful here, but also I didn’t really feel that hungry.

Doctor: Your glands are swollen and your cheeks are puffy. You’ve had aches and pains as well as fever. It could be mumps because according to your medical history, you weren’t vaccinated.

Girl: I’ve never heard of it. What is it?

Doctor: It’s a viral infection. So, I can’t give you any antibiotics because they won’t work.

Girl: So how can you treat it?

Doctor: You should get plenty of bed rest and relaxation. It usually takes two weeks to recover. You can use either a cold or hot compress to reduce the pain of swollen glands.

Girl: Is that everything?

Doctor: Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids as well, but also try not to spread the disease to your family. Make sure you wash your hands regularly and disinfect surfaces at home.

Girl: Ok, thank you, Doctor. I will follow your advice!

I want to tell you about a visit to the hospital a few weeks ago. It all started with a slight pain in my abdomen. I thought I had eaten something which was off, so I wasn’t too worried about it. I drank some mint tea and forgot all about it. The next day the pain was still there, somewhere around the navel and the lower right part of my tummy. At that point, I was a little bit concerned because I don’t usually get a stomachache which lasts longer than one day. The pain felt like a cramp at first, but it was getting sharper, especially when I coughed or sneezed. I also couldn’t take a deep breath properly because of the pain. My parents rushed me to the A&E. While we were waiting in the hospital, I felt like I was going to vomit and pass out. Fortunately, it didn't take long before it was my turn to be examined. The doctor touched my abdomen and the pain was so severe that it was obvious that it was appendicitis. In a way I was lucky because the appendix didn’t burst, which makes the surgery more complicated. They took me to the operating theatre straight away and, after two hours, I was in the ward able to rest and relax. Each day I got better, and after a few days I was discharged from hospital. The doctors said I should be careful not to lift anything heavy, and I could be constipated for some time. They prescribed some antibiotics as well, and advised me not to eat anything stodgy. All in all, it wasn’t a bad experience after all.

Measles usually starts with symptoms which are similar to a cold. A few days later, a rash appears. Some people can get spots in their mouth and inside their cheeks, too. Other symptoms of the measles include a high temperature, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, as well as red, sore, and watery eyes. Measles is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. To reduce the risk of infection you should wash your hands regularly and avoid sharing a hairbrush or toothbrush as well as cutlery.

Girl: Good afternoon, Doctor.

Doctor: Good afternoon, Lizzie. What seems to be the matter?

Girl: Well, I haven’t been feeling well over the last three days. It started with a headache, so I took a painkiller, but it didn’t really help.

Doctor: Did you have a fever?

Girl: Hmm I don’t really know because I didn’t take my temperature.

Doctor: Let’s check it now… It’s 38.3, so it’s quite high.

Girl: Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling so weak and I’ve had muscle and joint pain.

Doctor: Yes, a fever can do it to you. Let me examine your chest and your neck. Hmmm. Have you had any pain while chewing or swallowing?

Girl: Yes, it started yesterday. I couldn’t really finish my dinner. It was so painful here, but also I didn’t really feel that hungry.

Doctor: Your glands are swollen and your cheeks are puffy. You’ve had aches and pains as well as fever. It could be mumps because according to your medical history, you weren’t vaccinated.

Girl: I’ve never heard of it. What is it?

Doctor: It’s a viral infection. So, I can’t give you any antibiotics because they won’t work.

Girl: So how can you treat it?

Doctor: You should get plenty of bed rest and relaxation. It usually takes two weeks to recover. You can use either a cold or hot compress to reduce the pain of swollen glands.

Girl: Is that everything?

Doctor: Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids as well, but also try not to spread the disease to your family. Make sure you wash your hands regularly and disinfect surfaces at home.

Girl: Ok, thank you, Doctor. I will follow your advice!

I want to tell you about a visit to the hospital a few weeks ago. It all started with a slight pain in my abdomen. I thought I had eaten something which was off, so I wasn’t too worried about it. I drank some mint tea and forgot all about it. The next day the pain was still there, somewhere around the navel and the lower right part of my tummy. At that point, I was a little bit concerned because I don’t usually get a stomachache which lasts longer than one day. The pain felt like a cramp at first, but it was getting sharper, especially when I coughed or sneezed. I also couldn’t take a deep breath properly because of the pain. My parents rushed me to the A&E. While we were waiting in the hospital, I felt like I was going to vomit and pass out. Fortunately, it didn't take long before it was my turn to be examined. The doctor touched my abdomen and the pain was so severe that it was obvious that it was appendicitis. In a way I was lucky because the appendix didn’t burst, which makes the surgery more complicated. They took me to the operating theatre straight away and, after two hours, I was in the ward able to rest and relax. Each day I got better, and after a few days I was discharged from hospital. The doctors said I should be careful not to lift anything heavy, and I could be constipated for some time. They prescribed some antibiotics as well, and advised me not to eat anything stodgy. All in all, it wasn’t a bad experience after all.