Measles
Measles is an infection caused by a virus (germ) and can
cause:
- Fever
- Irritability
- Cold-like symptoms - running nose
- Sore and runny eyes
- Dry "croupy" cough
- White spots on the gums (2nd and 3rd day)
- Rash (4th day) starting on the face and behind the ears,
then spreading down the body.
- Diarrhoea - often in the early stages in
children.
Serious complications of measles infection can occur such as
ear infections (approx. 1 in 20), bronchitis/pneumonia (approx. 1
in 25), convulsions (approx. 1 in 200), and in rare cases,
encephalitis
(infection of the brain) or meningitis (approx. 1 in 1,000)
may occur.
The likelihood of problems varies with age, and complications
are generally more common in young babies, older children and
adults.
Who does it affect?
ANYONE - who has not developed natural immunity or has
not been vaccinated against measles. Children are most
vulnerable though, but babies up to approximately 6 months are
protected by their mother's antibodies.
How do you get measles?
MEASLES IS VERY INFECTIOUS and you catch it by being in
close contact with someone who already has the infection.
The virus is passed in the secretions of the infected person's nose
and throat and is
spread by their sneezing and coughing. Also it is possible to
catch measles from direct contact with articles which have been
contaminated by these infected secretions e.g. hankies.
How do you prevent measles?
- By immunisation - there is a safe and effective vaccine,
which protects against measles. It is one of the "M"
components in MMR vaccine and a child needs two doses of this
vaccine, one at 13 - 15 months and another dose pre-school.
Protection is life long. An unvaccinated person has very little
chance of going through life without becoming infected.
- By avoiding close personal contact with a person with
measles if you are at risk. Because measles vaccine is a
"live" vaccine, it is not recommended that children who have a
weakened immune system e.g. because of medication or chemotherapy,
should be vaccinated so these children are particularly vulnerable
and should avoid contact whenever possible.
Do you need to stay off school/work?
YES - MEASLES IS VERY INFECTIOUS. Measles is infectious
from just before the symptoms first occur and for
approximately 4 days after the appearance of the rash, so general
advice is to stay off school or work for at least 7 days after
symptoms first develop.
Do you need treatment?
There is no specific treatment for measles but an appropriate
medicine to help bring down a high temperature should be used (DO
NOT USE ASPIRIN IN CHILDREN) and if necessary, sponging down
with tepid water.
Also, if a secondary infection develops then the
doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat this e.g. an ear or chest
infection.
6 weeks after the illness, your GP or health visitor may take
a swab from the mouth of the infected person. This is to confirm if
it was a definite case of measles.