Measles And Your Child

Measles, also known as morbilli, English measles, or rubeola is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that at one time affected nearly everyone before the age of 20. But with the development of a vaccine and widespread immunization, measles has become a very rare disease in the United States. Although measles remains a relatively rare disease in advance country, there has been a recent upsurge in cases reported. These cases are occurring in children and adults who have not been vaccinated or have been incompletely vaccinated against measles. Measles is caused by a virus that is spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person. Symptoms of measles usually do not appear until 8-12 days after coming into contact with the virus.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with measles include

• high fever

• barky cough

• red or bloodshot eyes

• runny nose

• a red rash, which starts at the head and then spreads downward.

Other symptoms of measles include:

• Sore throat
• High fever
• Muscle pain
• Sensitivity to light

Complications

There are many complications associated with measles. Some of the complications are very serious and occur most frequently in babies or adults who contract the disease. These include ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. However, the most serious complication associated with measles is encephalitis, an infection of the brain. Encephalitis can lead to convulsions, hearing loss, and mental retardation, and affects approximately 1 of every 1,000 children infected with measles. Despite advances in medicine, measles can still occasionally be fatal because of these complications.

When should my child be vaccinated for measles?

The MMR vaccine is often given in two shots. The first shot is given around the age of 12-15 months, and the second around 4 or 5 years of age. If a child has not been immunized, measles can still be prevented by receiving the vaccine within three days of exposure to the virus. As previously mentioned, concern about the vaccine causing autism is unwarranted, and all children should be immunized against measles.

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source : Clevelandclinic.org