What Parents Should Know About Measles

In the U.S. we have seen several outbreaks of measles over the past few years.

These outbreaks have primarily been attributed to pockets of unvaccinated individuals in certain communities.

In this blog post, we'll talk about measles, the measles vaccine, and why vaccination remains important.

Why Measles Are Scary

Measles is a very contagious viral infection. It's thought to be one of the most contagious viruses that has been studied as about 90% of people exposed to the virus will become infected if unvaccinated. A person with measles spreads the infection in the air when they cough or sneeze, and those droplets can linger in the air for up to an hour. Infected droplets can also land on surfaces and live for hours.

While many people associate measles with a relatively benign childhood illness, it can lead to severe complications, including deafness, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), and even death, particularly in young children and individuals with weakened immune systems.

What Are The Symptoms of Measles?

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and a characteristic red rash. Usually the fever and fatigue may start first, and the rash typically appears last.

How Long Does It Take For Symptoms to Appear ?

How Long Will My Child Be Contagious?

The Measles Vaccine

Children usually receive the measles vaccine between 12-15 months of age and between 4 and 5 year of age. The vaccine is safe and effective for most children.

Before the development of the vaccine, measles caused millions of cases and thousands of deaths each year (worldwide).

The measles vaccine has significantly decreased measles infection rates to the the extend that it was considered to be irradicated in the United States. Unfortunately that is not longer the case and there have been multiple measles outbreaks in the U.S. due to a decline in vaccination rates.

Will The Measles Vaccine Make My Child Sick?

Usually no. Most kids will not have any side effects from the measles vaccine. However a small number of children may have mild side effects. Common side effects include soreness and redness at the injection site, fever and mild flu like symtoms.

More severe side effects are very rare. The risk associated with a measles infection is much higher than the risk of side effects from the vaccine (for most children).

Does The Measles Vaccine Cause Austism

The Measles Vaccine Keeps Children Safe

The measles vaccine is safe and effective for most children, yet, due to misinformation there is a decline in vaccination rates in certain communities. Misleading claims linking vaccines to autism or other health concerns have fueled distrust.

It's crucial to seek out factual, evidenced based information from trusted sources to guide your decision making as a parent. Anyone reviewing the evidence will support vaccinating against measles unless there is a valid contraindication.

If you have any concerns about the measles vaccine, you should address those concerns with your pediatrician.