Measles
There’s been a lot of reports in the media and concern from scientists and healthcare workers lately about the measles virus. In fact, this year is the biggest outbreak we’ve had since 1992, and the year is not over yet. Why is this a problem, and why is the CDC concerned?
What is measles?
At first glance, measles seems no more important than any other virus. Our typical, medical school definition is cough, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and coryza (runny nose). It also often includes a fever (can be up to 104F), tiny white spots in the mouth (Koplik spots) starting on day 2-3, and a flat red rash starting on day 3. It generally lasts about a week, and most of the time the symptoms are gone within about a week.
That doesn’t sound scary, so what’s the big deal?
It’s the complications of measles that concern us. At the milder end we have ear infections in about 10%. Then there is pneumonia, which up to 1 out of 20 children with measles gets. The most common cause of death in young children with measles is pneumonia. About 1 out of every 1,000 children with measles will get swelling in their brain, which can cause them to be deaf or develop mental problems. Out of every 1,000 children who gets measles, 1-3 of them will die, even with medical treatment.
Then there are the things that can happen after you get over the initial illness. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a big name for a rare neurologic disease that can develop 2-10 years after having measles. It starts with problems with behavior and intellect, and often leads to death.
Measles has been known to cause a kind of amnesia in your immune system. The way it interacts with your immune system causes your immune cells to forget about other diseases that they had been prepared to fight. It was initially thought that this was just temporary. However, it has been shown that this decrease in resistance to other illnesses can last up to three years.
How do people get measles?
You can get measles from an infected person coughing, sneezing, or even breathing in the same area as you. In fact, the virus can stay in the air for a few hours after the infected person has left. For unimmunized people, or those with poor immune systems, 9 out of 10 people will get the disease. Measles is very infectious.
Can measles be treated?
No. It is a virus, and as with most viruses there is no cure for it. The best that can be done is supportive therapy-fluids, anti-fever medicine, etc.
So how do I keep from getting measles?
Almost every case of measles is absolutely preventable. Most pneumonias, deaths, deafness, and neurological problems caused by measles can be prevented. The MMR vaccine has been in use for decades, is safe, and is easy to get at your local pediatrician or health department. There is one dose recommended at the 12 month well child visit, and a second dose at the 4yo well child visit. If a younger child may be going to an area where they might be exposed, it can be given early (but will still be given again at the correct times). Make sure you have it, and make sure your child has it.
Links.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis info page.
