Hey Rachel — I just watched an episode of Good Morning America that kind of freaked me out. I thought we should discuss it because it’s something all our mama readers need to know about.
Did you see it? It was about a woman who had an active case of measles and traveled from the U.K. to Washington D.C., then to Denver (where she had a three hour layover), and then on to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Along the way she may have exposed tens of thousands of people to this highly contagious disease and put those who are unvaccinated at risk.
Federal health officials are declaring a medical emergency and trying to track down every single person who may have come in contact with her in order to prevent a massive measles outbreak.
How crazy is that? Just a few weeks ago we posted a story about an unvaccinated American boy who was exposed to measles while on vacation in Switzerland and then came home and unknowingly exposed another 839 people, including babies who were too young to be vaccinated.
So measles is definitely in the news these days and we know that many parents have not vaccinated their kids due to fears about possible side effects like autism (even though the research that made that connection was proven to be fraudulent).
I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to ask MOC’s maaaaarvelous pediatrician-in-residence all the questions moms have about measles. Knowledge is power, so I’m just gonna fire them at you, okay?
What exactly is measles?
Ellen, this is such an important topic! We tend to forget how serious measles can be, but before a vaccine was available thousands of kids and adults died from it each year.
Measles (the medical name is rubeola, not to be confused with rubella which is German measles) is a respiratory infection that’s caused by a virus. Trademark symptoms are an all-over body rash and a flu-like syndrome, including high fever, a hacking cough, red eyes, runny nose and congestion. Wide-spread immunization with the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine drastically reduced cases in the U.S., but outbreaks are becoming more and more common, as this story confirms.
Why is it so scary?
In many cases the symptoms of measles, while very uncomfortable, run their course and resolve, but sometimes complications develop including secondary infections like croup, pneumonia, and encephalitis which causes dangerous inflammation of the brain. Any of these can be severe and lead to permanent damage. One in every 1,000 patients die. You know the author Roald Dahl who wrote James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? One of his daughters, Olivia, died at age 7 of measles encephalitis. Such a sad story.
How easy is it to catch and how exactly is it transmitted?
The measles virus is one of the most contagious around. 90% of unvaccinated people who share space with an infected patient will come down with the disease. It is transmitted through tiny droplets in the air whenever an infected person sneezes or coughs and infectivity begins 2-4 days before the rash appears and lasts up to 5 days after, so more than a week total. That’s a long time. Droplets containing the virus land on surfaces or are inhaled by unsuspecting passers-by, and they stay active for 2 hours or more.
Once you are exposed, how long before you get sick?
The incubation period is 10-14 days after exposure. That means you don’t know you’ve been infected for up to 2 weeks. Chances are you won’t even remember all the places you’ve been during that time. It makes it hard to track down all possible spread of the disease.
If you get it, how long does the illness last?
The fever and flu-like symptoms typically last about a week, while the rash can stick around for up to 10 days. That’s if no complications arise.
Is it worse for children than adults?
Complications are usually more severe for adults, but there are lots of variables. Anything that compromises the immune system, such as prematurity, a chronic illness like asthma or chemotherapy for cancer, will increase the complication rate for children and adults alike. The mortality rate for immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV is as high as 30%.
Is there any treatment?
There is no specific treatment and most patients recover with supportive care and lots of TLC, but the relative frequency of complications means that patients should be seen by a doctor at the first sign that symptoms are becoming more severe.
Are there any lasting effects?
Without complications, measles will run its course without long-term effects, but if complications occur you can be left with problems ranging from deafness to lung scarring to brain damage. It just depends.
Does the vaccine provide life-long immunity?
Both the MMR vaccine and natural measles infection will result in life-long immunity. The vaccine is considerably safer and less uncomfortable.
What are the risks and complications of the vaccine?
While no medication is entirely risk-free, the MMR vaccine is very safe. In children without underlying health problems the most common reactions are mild fever 6-10 days following the vaccine and a measles-like rash which isn’t contagious and fades quickly. For children with other health conditions, consult your doctor. Immunocompromised children are usually not candidates for the vaccine. That’s another reason it’s so important that the rest of us get immunized.
How can you keep your children safe if they are too young to be vaccinated?
The MMR vaccine is usually given at the 12-15 month visit (with a booster at age 5), sometimes earlier if there’s a known outbreak in your community. Infants under 6 months of age are most often protected by passive immunity from their mothers during pregnancy, so it’s the 6-12 month olds who are at greatest risk. As with infection of all kinds, staying healthy, frequent handwashing and avoidance of those with respiratory symptoms are the best prevention. AND encourage everyone you know to get immunized.
How common is measles in Europe and other countries Americans like to visit?
Measles outbreaks are much more common in European countries like Germany and the U.K. than in the U.S. because of lower rates of vaccination. Fears about the MMR vaccine are even more prevalent in Europe than here in our country. The developing world sees measles epidemics on a regular basis due to unavailability of the vaccine. It’s so ironic — some who have the vaccine don’t want it, while those who can’t get it are desperate for it. When you have the experience of seeing a child die from a preventable disease you don’t worry as much about the tiny risk of vaccine side effects.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes — immunize, immunize, immunize. I can’t say it enough. It’s not only your child who may be in danger, but the child or adult who happens to walk by at the park or in the supermarket. If the cashier checking out your groceries is having chemo for breast cancer, and catches a preventable disease from your UN-immunized 4-year-old, it could be fatal. How would you feel?
The information provided by MamasOnCall is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, but is for information purposes only. You assume full responsibility for the health and well-being of your family. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical or psychiatric condition.
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