Measles is an acute viral disease that spreads very easily and can be serious. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. In fact, 9 out of 10 people exposed to measles will catch it, if they are unvaccinated, have not had the disease before or have a problem with their immune system. Even very brief exposure to an infected person in a shared space poses high risk for unimmunized people. Part of the reason that it is spreads so quickly is that People can be contagious before they know they are sick. An infected person can spread measles easily to others 4 days before the rash appears, and they are still contagious 4 days after the rash appears. Measles spreads from person to person and through the air from respiratory droplets from a child’s cough or sneeze. The virus can live for two hours on surfaces or suspended in the air.
Recently, there has been an increase in measles cases in the United States. As of March 7, more than 220 cases of measles have been reported across 12 states, including outbreaks in west Texas (198 cases) and southeast New Mexico (30 cases). Two deaths have been reported to the CDC.
Common signs of measles infection include:
• high fever
• Rash: usually appearing 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It starts on the head and spreads down to the rest of the body.
• Cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes
• Small spots in the cheek area inside the mouth, called Koplik spots
• Diarrhea
• Ear infection
Measles can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), deafness, intellectual disability and even death. It is reported that In the United States, 1-3 out of every 1,000 children who get measles die from it. About 1 out of every 1,000 children will have infection of the brain and many go on to have long-term brain damage.
There is a false information going viral that Vitamin A prevents measles. This is not true, only the MMR vaccine can prevent measles.
Vitamin A should not be used to try to prevent measles, nor should it be used in high dosages as it can cause toxicity (nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, joint and bone pain, blurry vision, skin/hair problems, increased intracranial pressure, liver damage, confusion, coma, etc)
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends all children get two doses of MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. Children can receive the second dose earlier as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.
Two doses of MMR are 97% effective against measles.
If you live in a community experiencing an outbreak, or if you travel internationally, your baby may be vaccinated as early as 6 months of age. Talk with your pediatrician if this applies to you.
If your child is too young to receive the MMR vaccine, there are a few things you can do to lower their risk:
· Limit your baby’s exposure to crowds, other children, and anyone with a cold.
· Prevent germs at home. Disinfect objects and surfaces in your home regularly.
· Feed your baby breastmilk. It has unique antibodies to prevent and fight infections.
Practice good handwashing hygiene (scrub for at least 20 seconds with soap and water)
Protect your little ones by following the recommended vaccine schedule!
