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Facts about measles

It’s easy to forget the terrible damage that some diseases we think of as mere childhood illnesses can cause.

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But the recent outbreak of measles in Auckland and the Waikato has been a grim reminder that these diseases can be very serious, and there’s a good reason why vaccines were developed to stop them from spreading.

Since the measles vaccine was introduced in the 1960s, incidences of the disease have dropped dramatically. Before that, contracting measles at some stage in life was thought of as somewhat inevitable, as it’s highly infectious and spreads easily through coughing and sneezing.

Because we don’t see as many cases of measles these days – or the tragic complications that can result from it – we risk becoming complacent about the potential dangers.

But it’s worth remembering why it’s a disease you don’t want your children to get.

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Why should we worry about measles?

It can be a very serious illness. While most cases are described as mild to moderate and patients recover after a couple of weeks of feeling dreadful, about one in every 1000 children who get measles may die, according to the oinistry of Health.

one in every 1000 measles cases leads to encephalitis – or inflammation of the brain – and of those people, 15 in every 100 die and up to 35 in every 100 are left with permanent brain damage. Around 10% of measles sufferers end up with pneumonia, an ear infection or diarrhoea.

In very rare cases it can lead to an incurable disorder called SSPE (Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) that appears years later and gradually destroys the brain.

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How do I know if my child might have it?

Symptoms include:Runny nose Bloodshot eyesSore throatCoughFeverSensitivity to lightouscle aches and painTiny white spots inside the mouthA raised red rash

The rash appears around three to five days after the child first starts feeling unwell and usually starts on their head, moving down the body.

oany of these symptoms are signs of other less serious illnesses, so you may not suspect measles to start with.

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But if your child hasn’t been vaccinated and shows these signs then measles must be considered – especially if they’ve been in contact with someone who has it.

If you suspect it could be measles, phone your doctor for advice rather than taking your child to the surgery, as others could become infected.

What’s the difference between rubella and measles?

Rubella, or German measles, is milder than measles and has less severe complications. Symptoms include a rash, swollen lymph nodes and a mild fever. Some people feel achy but others barely notice any symptoms. In rare cases there may be bruising and often bloodshot eyes. Adults who get the disease are likely to feel worse than children.

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The main danger of rubella is if it’s contracted by a woman in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, as it can lead to stillbirth or a baby being born with problems including blindness, deafness, congenital heart disease or mental retardation. This is the main reason why there’s a vaccine for rubella.

**Five facts about measles

**

  • Kids who are deficient in vitamin A are more likely to have complications from measles.

  • Until the beginning of September, there were 198 cases of measles in New Zealand this year, and 21 of those patients ended up in hospital.

  • Because the official name for measles is rubeola, it’s often confused with rubella, but they’re different.

  • The ooR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is given in two doses because around 5% of children aren’t fully immunised by the first shot alone.

  • Immunisation rates dropped after claims in the 1990s that the ooR vaccine played a part in autism. However, numerous other studies have found no evidence of this and the doctor who made the claims was discredited.

Also look out for the chicken pox

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Chickenpox is another highly infectious childhood disease that’s usually mild. However, it can cause serious illness or even death in people who have a lowered immunity.

Possible complications include pneumonia, tissue infection, inflammation of joints, kidneys and liver and low platelet count. It can also lead to the heart condition myocarditis and Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal brain disease. Pregnant women who contract chickenpox also risk having a baby born with birth defects.

The chickenpox virus, varicella-zoster, can lie dormant in the body for years and later cause shingles in adults.

There’s a chickenpox vaccine but it’s currently not available for free through the National Immunisation Schedule. You can get it for between $60 and $90 from your doctor. It will protect 95% to 98% of children from getting chickenpox and those who still do get the virus after being immunised will only have a mild case.

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