Measles

Measles is a viral infection that spreads very easily. It's unpleasant, and it can sometimes lead to serious complications. The best way to prevent it is to have the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Anyone can get measles if they haven't been vaccinated or haven't had it before.

Most people recover 7 to 10 days after the symptoms appear.

The first symptoms of measles usually show up around 10 days after you're infected. They can include:

• cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing and a cough
• sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
• watery eyes
• swollen eyes
• a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40°C (104°F)
• small greyish-white spots in the mouth
• aches and pains
• loss of appetite
• tiredness, irritability and a general lack of energy

The measles rash comes around 2 to 4 days after these first symptoms and normally fades after about a week. The rash:

• is made up of small red-brown spots, flat or slightly raised, that may join together into larger blotchy patches (it may be harder to see on brown and black skin)
• usually first appears on the head or neck, before spreading outwards to the rest of the body
• is not usually itchy

Go to a hospital emergency department if you think you or your child have measles and:

• have a seizure (fit)
• have severe difficulty breathing, so 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, and 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 a doctor 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 is taking fewer feeds or less fluid than usual
• you or your child are peeing less than usual (or your baby has fewer wet nappies)
• you or your child feel very unwell, or you're worried something is seriously wrong

If your doctor is closed, speak to a doctor or call the 16263 health line.

Phone the doctor first before you visit. They can make arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

You may be more likely to catch measles, or to have complications from it, if you are:

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

Measles can make you feel quite unwell, but it usually passes 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, so 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).

The measles virus travels in tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when a person with the infection breathes, coughs or sneezes.

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

A person with measles is infectious from the time the symptoms develop until about 4 days after the rash first appears.

If you have measles, there are a few things you can do to stop it spreading to other people:

• stay off nursery, school or work for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears
• wash your hands regularly with soap
• cough or sneeze into tissues, and throw used tissues in the bin
• avoid close contact with anyone who hasn't had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine
• avoid contact with people who are at higher risk from measles, such as anyone who is pregnant, who has a weakened immune system, or who is under 12 months old

Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. If you haven't been fully vaccinated before, you can still have it at any age.

Some people can't have the MMR vaccine. If that's you and you're at immediate risk of catching measles, a treatment called human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) can be used instead.

There are some things you can do at home to help ease the symptoms of measles.

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease fever, aches and pains, but don't give aspirin to children under 16 years old
• drink plenty of water so you don't become dehydrated
• clean the eyes with damp cotton wool

In severe cases of measles, especially if there are complications, you or your child may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment.