Measles
Measles is a highly
infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to
serious complications. It is now uncommon in the Western world (including USA and UK) because of the
effectiveness of vaccination.
Anyone can get measles if they have not been
vaccinated or they have not had it before, although it's most common in young
children. The infection usually clears in around 7 to 10
days.
Symptoms
of measles
The initial symptoms of measles develop around
10 days after you're infected. These can include:
- cold-like
symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to
light
- a
high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C (104F)
- small
greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks.
A few days later, a red-brown blotchy
rash will appear. This usually starts on the head or upper neck, before
spreading outwards to the rest of the body.
When to
see your doctor
You should contact your doctor as soon as possible if
you suspect that you or your child may have measles. It is 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 (had
two doses of the MMR vaccine) or haven't had the infection before – even if you
don't have any symptoms.
Is
measles serious?
Measles can be unpleasant, but will usually
pass in about 7 to 10 days without causing any further problems. Once you've had measles, your body builds up
resistance (immunity) to the virus and it's highly unlikely you'll get it
again. However, measles can lead to serious and
potentially life-threatening complications in some people. These include
infections of the lungs (pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis).
How
measles is spread
The measles virus is contained in the millions of
tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when an infected person
coughs or sneezes. You can easily catch measles by breathing in these
droplets or, if the droplets have settled on a surface, by touching the surface
and then placing your hands near your nose or mouth.
The virus can survive on
surfaces for a few hours. People with measles are infectious from
when the symptoms develop until about four days after the rash first appears.
How
measles can be prevented
Measles can be prevented by having the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is given in two doses as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. The
first dose is given when your child is around 13 months old and a second dose
is given before your child starts school.
Adults and older children can be vaccinated at any
age if they haven't been fully vaccinated before. Ask your GP about having the
vaccination. If the MMR vaccine isn't suitable for you, a treatment
called human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) can be used if you're at immediate
risk of catching measles.
Treating
measles
There are several things you can do to help relieve
your symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading the infection, including:
- taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve fever, aches
and pains – aspirin should not be given to children under 16 years
old
- drinking
plenty of water to avoid dehydration
- closing
the curtains to help reduce light sensitivity
- using
damp cotton wool to clean the eyes
- staying
off school or work for at least four days from when the rash first appears.
In severe cases, especially if there are
complications, you or your child may need to be admitted to hospital for
treatment.
How common is measles?
The effectiveness of the MMR vaccine means that
cases of measles are uncommon in the UK nowadays. However, the number of cases
has risen in recent years and there have been some high-profile outbreaks. For example, between November 2012 and July 2013
there was an outbreak in and around Swansea, during which more than 1,200
cases were reported.
It is thought the rise in the number of cases of
measles is the result of parents not getting their child vaccinated with the
MMR vaccine, probably because of speculation linking MMR to autism.
Publicity in 1998 highlighted a report claiming
there was a link between the MMR jab and autism. However, numerous studies
undertaken to investigate this claim found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Source: NHS Choices