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How to Spot Measles Early
Measles is making a comeback, and that's not good news. You might think that if your kid has a rash, it's measles. Well, measles doesn't start off with a rash. It starts off with upper respiratory symptoms. That's the tricky part.
Measles is contagious from three to five days before the rash appears and continues to be contagious until four days after the rash appears.
It's a virus that is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing, or by direct contact, such as touching the sick person and then touching your own eyes, nose, or mouth.
When the rash does show up, it starts on the face and then spreads to the body. It takes about one to two weeks after exposure for measles to present itself, and illness usually lasts for one to two weeks.
So measles starts out looking like a cold, but there are other symptoms that can trigger us to think about measles. Fever with measles is usually very high, like up to 105 degrees. They will have a dry cough, a runny nose, and very red, watery eyes. The kids look pretty miserable.
After about two to three days, you will see tiny white spots on the inside of their cheeks. These are called Koplik spots, and they are only seen with measles.
Only after all those things does the classic rash start. The rash looks like large, flat, pink spots and small red bumps that start on the face or neck, and then spread down over the rest of the body.
Long-Term Health Risks of Measles
One of the reasons we strive to contain measles is that up to 3 out of every 1,000 unvaccinated people can have serious complications, including brain swelling, blindness, and death.
Kids normally get their first MMR vaccine at 12 months, but they can get it as early as 6 months if they are in an area with a high measles rate. That dose doesn't officially count, and they will still need the 12-month-old and the 4-year-old doses.
There is a complication called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is very rare but fatal. It is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system, but it doesn't show up until 7 to 10 years after someone has had measles. It affects about 1 in 25,000 children and presents as seizures, cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and eventually death.
Another big concern is something called immune amnesia. It basically wipes away the immune system's memory and can leave unvaccinated children at a higher risk for infections for five or more years.
In pregnant women, measles can cause miscarriage or premature delivery. If a person with measles has been in contact with any pregnant woman during the contagious period, the mother must be able to contact their OB as soon as they find this out.
How the MMR Vaccine Helps Protect Children and Families
The good news is that 2 doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective against measles. If you have any questions about the MMR or any vaccine, or about measles in general, talk to your child's pediatrician.
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