A Geisinger infectious disease specialist addresses measles symptoms, treatment, and prevention, as well as what to do if your community has a measles outbreak.
You may believe that measles is a chronic condition, and you would be correct. Measles was a prevalent pediatric sickness decades ago, but it is now rare in our country because of widespread vaccination.
However, millions of cases occur worldwide each year, and measles epidemics continue in some parts of the United States as a result of international travel and recent decreases in youth vaccination rates.
Unvaccinated youngsters exposed to measles are at risk of contracting the disease, which can lead to serious health complications like brain and lung infections.
You can get measles by inhaling tiny droplets that become airborne when an infected child coughs, sneezes, or talks.
These small droplets can remain in the air for more than two hours, even if the child is no longer infected in the room. When droplets land on surfaces such as doorknobs or counters, other people can become infected after touching those surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Measles symptoms
Symptoms often occur seven to fourteen days after being exposed to the virus. Before the rash, the first symptoms of rubeola can be mistaken for a cold or flu.
Early symptoms of measles include:
- Dry cough
- Cold and smelly nose
- High temperature (can reach 104°F)
- Sore throat
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Small red dots with blue and white centres in the mouth.
A rubeola rash appears three to five days after other symptoms appear. The rash usually begins as flat, red spots on the forehead and then spreads to the rest of the face, body, arms, legs, and feet.
“The rash can be itchy and uncomfortable at times and last up to seven days,” says Dr Gotham. “The nodules are usually lumpy and may appear as red, mottled patches of skin.
Children with rubeola are highly contagious from about four days before the rash until about four days afterwards. “Children with weakened immune systems may be infected for a long time.”
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Measles treatment
Rubeola is caused by a virus, hence there is no specific therapy. The virus must continue to evolve, which usually takes 10 to 14 days.
In the meantime, Dr Gowtham’s options for treating your child’s mild symptoms:
- Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially if he or she has a fever.
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest so his or her body has time to fight off infections.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (for children over 6 months) reduce fever and discomfort. However, do not give aspirin, as it can cause dangerous complications in children.
- At night, a nasal spray or saline drops, as well as a cool mist humidifier, can assist relieve congestion.
Avoid complications of rubeola, including ear infections, croup, pneumonia, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Children under 5 years old, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems are most at risk.
When to call the Paediatrician?
Report red measles cases to the Department of Health due to their impact on public health. If you think your child has measles, call your paediatrician, especially if your child is a newborn, has not been fully vaccinated, or has a weakened immune system.
Your doctor may recommend a medication called immunoglobulin, which can be given to at-risk patients for six days after exposure to prevent serious infections.
“If your child shows signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet diapers or bathroom visits, very high fever, or sore eyes, see your paediatrician right away,” advises Dr Gotham.
What to do if you have measles?
Although red measles was first reported in the United States in 2000, the disease is still widespread in other parts of the world.
Even if your family doesn’t travel abroad, you can contract the virus if there is a measles outbreak in your community.
Rubeola can spread among groups of unvaccinated people, or international travellers can contract the disease and bring it back to the United States.
If a measles outbreak occurs in your community, Dr Gowtham’s advice:
- To get vaccinated. Check that you and your children have received age-appropriate doses of the red measles vaccine. It is the most effective way to prevent measles. If you are not sure you have taken the correct dose for your child, contact your doctor.
- Limit exposure. To protect your family and prevent its spread, avoid large gatherings and close contact with other people, especially those who are sick. Especially during a fire, stay away from public places where infected people may be.
- Maintain good hygiene. Ask your family to wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching their faces, cover coughs and sneezes, and dispose of used tissues immediately.
- Information. Knowing the most recent information supplied by health officials and following their advice will keep you and your family safe during a red measles outbreak.
Measles prevention
The most effective strategy to protect yourself and your children against measles is to be vaccinated. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is usually given to children between 12 and 15 months of age and then between 4 and 6 years of age.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one dose of the MMR vaccine is about 93% effective in preventing red measles, while two doses are about 97% effective.
Dr. Gotham emphasized the importance of lifetime immunity against all forms of rubeola, stating that vaccination is safer than allowing a child to contract the disease.
Vaccines do not cause autism. Even if your child is vaccinated against red measles, the risk is low, but the risk of serious complications and hospitalization is much lower.
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