Measles tends to do the rounds every so often, but that doesn’t quell our fears of catching it. Pay attention to the signs and symptoms so you can catch it early and get you or your child the care you need.
Early symptoms of measles
Measles is a highly contagious, viral illness, which means antibiotics won’t do anything against it. It’s best to just let it run its course. Symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Red eyes
- Swollen eyelids
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Red rash
The rash
The rash begins as raised red bumps behind the ears, before spreading down the neck to the rest of the body including arms and legs.
Where is measles most common
Anyone can’t catch measles, but it’s young children who are most in danger of coming down with the virus. All it takes is for one or two children to have forgone their immunisations for the virus to spread.
People born after 1978 should have received two MMR vaccinations. The first is given at twelve months with the second coming when the child is in junior infants.
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Measles will usually run it’s course in about ten days if there are no complications. However, it can turn into a serious illness with up to one in 20 children developing pneumonia, and one in every 1000 children dying from the disease.
Contact your care team or GP for more information or check out the HSE website here.
maternity & infant
Originally posted 2018-04-06 15:03:33.