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Medical Video: Measles Outbreak | Measles Explained | Measles Vaccine | MMR Vaccine | Public Health England | 2018
1. Definition
What is measles?
Compared to other diseases associated with fever and rashes of itching, measles is the most deadly for children. This disease spreads very easily so it is very important to prevent your child from getting a measles infection.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Measles symptoms generally appear 7 to 14 days after the child is infected.
Measles usually starts with symptoms:
- High fever
- Cough
- Cold
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
Two or three days after the symptoms begin, small white spots may appear in the mouth.
Three to five days after the symptoms begin, the rash will appear. Usually red spots will appear flat on the face area, in the hairline, and will spread downward to the neck, arms, ankles, and legs. Small lumps can also appear on flat red spots. These spots may overlap together and spread from the head to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, the temperature of the fever will increase by more than 40 ° Celsius.
After a few days, the fever will go down and the skin rash will fade.
2. How to handle it
What should I do?
If you think you or your child has measles, contact your doctor immediately and explain what symptoms you are experiencing.
When do I have to see a doctor?
You should contact your doctor as soon as possible if you feel that you or your child might be infected with measles.
Doctors will usually be able to diagnose measles from a combination of symptoms that you or your child experience, however, saliva samples can be tested to confirm the diagnosis.
3. Prevention
To prevent measles, children and some adults must also be immunized with vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella. Two doses of vaccine are needed for good protection. Children should be given the first dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the age of 12 to 15 months. The second dose can be given 4 weeks later, but this vaccine can also be given before they start entering kindergarten namely at the age of 4 to 6 years.
