Measles

Phone 999 or go to A&E if:

You think you or your child have measles and:

• have a seizure (fit)
• have severe difficulty breathing – you’re gasping, choking or not able to get words out (babies may make grunting noises or their stomach may suck under their ribcage)
• are unable to stay awake – cannot keep their eyes open for more than a few seconds
• suddenly become confused – your child may be very unsettled, behaving differently, or crying non-stop
• your child is limp, floppy or not responding normally – their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head and focus on your face
• a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
• a stiff neck, or find light uncomfortable or painful

Contact your GP practice urgently if:

You think you or your child may have measles and:

• your child is under 1 year old and has come into contact with someone who has measles
• you’ve been in close contact with someone who has measles and you’re pregnant or have a weakened immune system
• you or your child have a high temperature
• you or your child have difficulty breathing – you may feel more short of breath than usual
• your baby or young child is not feeding well, or taking less feeds or fluids than usual
• you or your child are peeing less than usual (or your baby has fewer wet nappies)
• you or your child feels very unwell, or you’re worried something is seriously wrong

If your GP is closed, phone 111.

You should phone your GP first before visiting. They can make arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Who’s at higher risk of measles?

You might be more at risk of having measles, or of experiencing complications from measles, if you’re:

• under 12 months old
• have a weakened immune system (even if you’ve been immunised against measles)
• pregnant

Is measles serious?

Measles can be unpleasant, but will usually pass in about 7 to 10 days without causing any further problems.

Once you’ve had measles, your body builds up resistance (immunity) to the virus. It’s highly unlikely you’ll get it again.

However, measles can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications in some people. These include infections of the lungs (pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis).

How measles is spread

The measles virus is contained in tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.

You can easily catch measles by breathing in these droplets from the air. Or, if the droplets have settled on a surface, by touching the surface and then placing your hands near your nose or mouth. The virus can survive on surfaces for a few hours.

People with measles are infectious from when the symptoms develop until about 4 days after the rash first appears.