Measles, a very contagious respiratory virus, is on the rise. As of May 2014, there have been 334 cases of measles reported in the United States. According to the CDC, this is the highest number of cases reported since measles was eliminated in the US in 2009.
The majority of people who contracted measles were unvaccinated. Communities that tend not to vaccinate can be especially affected by outbreaks. For example, a recent report by the California Department of Public Health, reveals that more than 7% of students in Marin county are not vaccinated. Marin County is located in Northern California
Measles begins with a mild cough, a low grade fever and red watery eyes. The initial symptoms can develop 7-14 days after a person has been infected. Three days into the illness, a rash will start to develop, and you might see white koplik spots in the back of the mouth. The rash starts on the face and then extends down to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, you can see high fever spikes.
The fever and rash will fade after a few days. However, many people will develop complications from measles. Complications include pneumonia, ear infections, encephalitis, diarrhea and death. In young children, pneumonia is the most common complication that is associated with death. According to the CDC, “as many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia.” Ear infections are also diagnosed in 10% of all measles cases, and often result in permanent hearing loss.
Measles is so contagious that if an unvaccinated person is around someone with the disease, there is a 90% chance that he will become ill. The virus is spread by droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People with measles are contagious 4 days before the rash appears and are still contagious for up to 4 days after the rash.
The best way you can protect your children is to vaccinate them with the MMR vaccine. The MMR, (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) is a live vaccine that is given at the age of 1. A booster dose of the vaccine is given between the ages of 4 and 6. Adults can also contract measles. If you are unsure of your immunization status, call your doctor and ask about vaccination.
The advice provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment for specific medical conditions
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