Exantemas virales: Sarampión
Cuevas Catalina (1,2); Contreras Jorge (1,2); Rostion Carmen (3); Magdalena Mira (4)
(1) Licenciado en Medicina, Universidad de Chile.
(2) Interno de Medicina, Universidad de Chile.
(3) Cirujano Infantil, Depto. Pediatría y Cirugía Infantil, Facultad de Medicina
Universidad de Chile
(4) Pediatra, Depto. Pediatría y Cirugía Infantil, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Chile

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The exanthematic diseases are a set of clinical entities of diverse origin, usually due to infection (1), whose cardinal manifestation is a skin rash. Between this diseases, measles is very important, caused by the homonymous virus, an RNA virus family Paramyxoviridae (1), highly contagious in people who have not been immunized (5), which is transmitted by direct contact or by air. The clinical features consists of two phases, the prodromal phase characterized by high fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis; and the rush phase with the onset of characteristic erythematous maculopapular rush of measles (9). The diagnosis is suspected in any patient presenting with fever and characteristic rash. Diagnostic confirmation is done by serology detection of virus specific IgM antibodies in blood or oral secretions (17). The treatment is mainly based on support measures (24) and vitamin A administration (25). In Chile there is MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), included in the National Immunization Program, which confers immunity against this agent. During this year, there have been reported measles outbreaks in different countries around the world, among them is Chile, for this reason arises the need for an updated literature review.

Key Words: Exanthema, Measles, pediatrics.