What Parent’s Need To Know About Measles

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What parents need to know about measles

What Parent's Need To Know About Measles

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the measles virus. The infection can lead to serious and sometimes fatal complications. Fortunately, measles is a vaccine-preventable illness.

Is measles coming back?

Measles was under control in the United States, but we are seeing outbreaks again in areas where vaccination rates have fallen.

The childhood and adolescent immunization program in the United States led to a more than 99% decrease in measles cases since 1963. However, travelers visiting or returning to the United States from other countries can spread measles to people who are at risk and cause an outbreak..

International travel tips for families with young children

  • Babies younger than age 6 months cannot be vaccinated yet but may have some protection from antibodies passed to them during pregnancy. (See "How Do Vaccines Work?") Consider delaying travel to locations with measles outbreaks to avoid risks of severe illness.
  • Babies age 6 to 11 months old should receive their first MMR vaccine dose at least two weeks before traveling. They will still need the standard 2-dose series if they received a dose before age 12 months.
  • Babies 12 months and older should receive their first dose of MMR vaccine in addition to the other vaccines recommended at that age. Infants 12 months and older should also receive a second dose of the MMR vaccine 28 days after the first dose.
  • Before traveling, check for health advisories on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notices webpage. Depending on your travel destination and the activities you have planned, other vaccines may also be recommended.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Common signs of measles infection include a high fever and rash. The rash usually appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It starts on the head and spreads down to the rest of the body.

In addition to a fever and rash, other measles symptoms may include:

  • Cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes
  • Small spots in the cheek area inside the mouth, called Koplik spots
  • Diarrhea
  • Ear infection

Measles can also lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), deafness, intellectual disability and even death.

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright @ 2024)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

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