An unvaccinated child can get measles when traveling abroad or even in the U. Two doses of MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles for your child. You may be wondering what you as a parent really need to know about measles.
CDC has put together a list of the most important facts about measles for parents like you. Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications , especially in children younger than 5 years of age.
There is no way to tell in advance the severity of the symptoms your child will experience. Related page: Measles Signs and Symptoms. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left.
Measles was declared eliminated from the U. Eliminated means that the disease is no longer constantly present in this country. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world. It spreads to the rest of the face, then down the neck and torso to the arms, legs, and feet. The fever and rash slowly go away after a few days. Measles is very contagious. In fact, 9 out of 10 people who aren't vaccinated for measles will get it if they are near an infected person.
Measles spreads when people breathe in or have direct contact with virus-infected fluid. It can pass through droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. Someone exposed to the virus usually shows symptoms 7—14 days later. People with measles can spread the disease from 4 days before the rash starts until about 4 days after that.
They're most contagious while they have a fever, runny nose, and cough. Kids with measles should be closely watched by a doctor. In some cases, measles can lead to other problems, such as:. Children with measles should be kept away from others for 4 days after their rash appears.
For those with a weak immune system, this should continue until they make a full recovery and all symptoms are gone. A measles infection can last for several weeks. Symptoms usually start 7—14 days after someone is exposed to the virus.
The best way to protect your kids is to make sure they're immunized against measles. For most kids, measles protection is part of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine MMR or measles-mumps-rubella- varicella vaccine MMRV given when they're 12 to 15 months old and again when they're 4 to 6 years old. The vaccine can be given to babies as young as 6 months old if they will be traveling internationally.
Talk to your doctor to see when the vaccine is needed. The risk of catching measles is much higher when traveling internationally, due to all the large outbreaks of measles currently going on in many other countries. Before going on an international trip, all travelers age 12 months and older should ensure they have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine, given at least 28 days apart. Infants age months, who are too young to have started their regular MMR shots, should get 1 early dose of MMR, and then receive their regular 2 doses for a total of 3 doses after their 1st birthday.
Unfortunately the youngest infants can be vulnerable to measles because there is no measles vaccine for those less than 6 months of age.
Antibodies from the mother can be passed to the baby but protection is not guaranteed. In the USA, measles vaccine is almost always given as a combination with vaccine against 2 other viruses: mumps and rubella. This combination vaccine is called MMR measles, mumps, and rubella and it gives protection against all 3 viruses. Is measles serious? What happens when the disease is more serious? Is there treatment for measles? How is measles spread or passed to others?
If someone has been exposed to measles, how does public health determine if they are immune? There are also presumptive criteria for immunity , meaning that people in these categories are probably but not definitely immune to measles: Born before , OR Written documentation of at least 1 dose of a measles-containing vaccine, given in or later AND after their first birthday; Medical test records confirming they had measles in the past; OR Served in the U.
How well does the measles vaccine work? What is the vaccination schedule for measles? Does the measles vaccine protect against other diseases too? Can pets get infected with measles or spread measles? No, pets do not get infected with or spread the measles virus.
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