However, research has shown that this immunity can be lost in just over 2. Children under 5 years of age are more likely to have complications due to measles. These can include things like pneumonia , encephalitis , and ear infections that can result in hearing loss. The incubation period of an infectious disease is the time that passes between exposure and when symptoms develop.
The incubation period for measles is between 10 and 14 days. After the initial incubation period, you may begin to experience nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, cough, and runny nose. The rash will begin to develop several days later.
In addition to a classic measles infection, there are also several other types of measles infections that you can get. Atypical measles occurs in people who received a killed measles vaccine between and When exposed to measles, these individuals come down with an illness that has symptoms such as high fever, rash, and sometimes pneumonia. Modified measles is typically milder than a regular case of measles.
Hemorrhagic measles is rarely reported in the United States. It causes symptoms like high fever, seizures , and bleeding into the skin and mucus membranes. However, it can cause serious complications if a woman develops the infection while pregnant. Both viruses:. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles.
Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing measles infection. The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one vaccination that can protect you from measles, mumps , and rubella. Children can receive their first vaccination at 12 months, or sooner if traveling internationally, and their second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.
Adults who have never received an immunization can request the vaccine from their doctor. Side effects to vaccination are typically mild and disappear in a few days. They can include things like fever and mild rash. In rare cases, the vaccine has been linked to low platelet count or seizures. Some believe that the measles vaccine can cause autism in children. As a result, an intense amount of study has been devoted to this topic over many years. This research has found that there is no link between vaccines and autism.
This is called herd immunity. To achieve herd immunity against measles, approximately 96 percent of the population must be vaccinated. Not everyone can receive the measles vaccination.
But there are other ways that you can help to prevent the spread of measles. Coming down with measles during your pregnancy can have significant negative health effects on both the mother and fetus. Pregnant women are at an increased risk for complications from measles such as pneumonia. Additionally, having measles while pregnant can lead to the following pregnancy complications:. Measles can also be transmitted from mother to child if the mother has measles close to her delivery date.
This is called congenital measles. Babies with congenital measles have a rash after birth or develop one shortly afterward. Receiving an injection of immunoglobulin may help to prevent an infection. Measles has a low death rate in healthy children and adults, and most people who contract the measles virus recover fully.
The risk of complications is higher in the following groups:. Approximately 30 percent of people with measles experience one or more complications. Measles can lead to life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain encephalitis.
In severe cases, especially if there are complications, you or your child may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment. Read more about treating measles. Measles starts with cold-like symptoms that develop about 10 days after becoming infected. This is followed a few days later by the measles rash.
A day or two before the rash appears, many people with measles develop small greyish-white spots in their mouth. Not everyone with measles has these spots, but if someone has them in addition to the other symptoms listed above or a rash, it's highly likely they have the condition.
The measles rash appears around two to four days after the initial symptoms and normally fades after about a week. Contact your GP as soon as possible if you suspect that you or your child has measles, even if you're not completely sure.
It's best to phone before your visit, as your GP surgery may need to make arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others. You should also see your GP if you've been in close contact with someone who has measles and you've not been fully vaccinated or haven't had the infection before — even if you don't have any symptoms yet. There's no specific treatment for measles, but the condition usually improves within 7 to 10 days.
Your GP will probably suggest taking things easy at home until you're feeling better. Stay away from work or school for at least four days from when the measles rash first appears to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. You should also try to avoid contact with people who are more vulnerable to the infection, such as young children and pregnant women.
If the symptoms of measles are causing discomfort for you or your child, there are some things you can do to treat these while you wait for your body to fight off the virus. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to reduce a high temperature fever and relieve any aches or pains if your child is uncomfortable.
Liquid infant paracetamol can be used for young children. Aspirin should not be given to children under 16 years old. If your child has a high temperature, make sure they drink plenty of fluids as they may be at risk of dehydration. You can gently clean away any crustiness from your child's eyelids and lashes using cotton wool soaked in water.
If your child has cold -like symptoms, such as a runny nose or a cough , there are a number of things you can do to help them feel more comfortable. For example, it might help your child if they sit in a hot, steamy bathroom. Or you could put a wet towel on a warm radiator to moisten the air, which may help ease your child's cough. Drinking warm drinks, particularly ones containing lemon or honey, may also help to relax the airways, loosen mucus, and soothe a cough.
Honey should not be given to babies under 12 months. If you or your child has measles, you should keep an eye out for any signs of the serious complications that can sometimes develop.
Most people will recover from measles after around 7 to 10 days, but sometimes it can lead to serious complications. It's estimated around 1 in every 5, people with measles will die as a result of the infection. Children who are older than 12 months and otherwise healthy have the lowest risk of developing complications. If you're not immune to measles and you become infected while you're pregnant, there's a risk of:.
If you're pregnant and you think you've come into contact with someone with measles and you know you're not immune, you should see your GP as soon as possible. They can advise you about treatment to reduce your risk of developing the condition. One dose is usually given to a child when they're 12 to 13 months old, and a second dose is given from age 3 years 4 months.
You or your child can be vaccinated at any point if you haven't been fully vaccinated before. If you're not sure whether you were vaccinated in the past, having the vaccine again won't cause any harm. A dose of the MMR vaccine can also be given to anyone over six months of age if they're at an immediate risk of catching measles.
For example, this could be if:. Children who have the vaccine before their first birthday should still have the 2 routine doses at age 12 months and from age 3 years 4 months. Human normal immunoglobulin HNIG is a special concentration of antibodies that can give short-term but immediate protection against measles. You may be wondering what you as a parent really need to know about measles. CDC has put together a list of the most important facts about measles for parents like you. Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications , especially in children younger than 5 years of age.
There is no way to tell in advance the severity of the symptoms your child will experience. Related page: Measles Signs and Symptoms. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.
Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. Measles was declared eliminated from the U. Eliminated means that the disease is no longer constantly present in this country.
However, measles is still common in many parts of the world. Even if your family does not travel internationally, you could come into contact with measles anywhere in your community. Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers mostly Americans and sometimes foreign visitors who get measles while they are in other countries.
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