[ad_1]
Q. Dear Doc
I am concerned about news that I have heard about measles abroad. I thought the disease was no longer there, but now I hear that she has returned somewhere in the world. I'm worried. I am emigrating soon with my child and I want to know how someone can catch him. How do you know if you catch it, and if there is anything I can do to protect it, as well as to protect myself from catching it.
A. Indeed, the press and social media have talked a lot about measles lately, particularly the current epidemic in the United States, especially in New York. All this has worried many parents like you, asking you what you really need to know about this disease.
Here are some important facts
1) Measles can be serious
Because in this region it is very rare because of our vaccination practices, many of us who have never seen measles, think that there is only a small rash and fever that disappear in a few days. This is not the case and measles can lead to serious health complications, especially in children under five years of age. The problem with measles is that there is no way to tell in advance how severe your child's symptoms will be.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about one in four people in the United States who contract measles will be hospitalized, and one in 1,000 people with measles will have swelling of the brain that can cause brain damage.
One to two out of every 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.
2) Signs and symptoms of measles
The symptoms of measles usually appear about seven to 14 days after infection.
The symptoms of measles usually start with:
high fever
cough
runny nose
red and watery eyes
Then, two to three days after the onset of symptoms, small white spots called Koplik Spots may appear inside the mouth.
Three to five days after the onset of symptoms, a rash occurs. It usually begins with flat red spots that appear on the face at the level of the hairline, then spreads to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. Small, raised bumps may also appear above the flat red spots. Flat points can meet when they are spreading from the head to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, fever can reach over 104 ° C.
3) Measles is very contagious
Measles spreads in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one is affected, nine out of ten people around him will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person has been infected with measles even up to two hours after he or she leaves. An infected person can transmit measles to other people before they even know that they have the disease. She can pbad it four days before developing the measles rash caused by the infection and up to four days after.
4) Your child could catch measles in the United States
Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000 because of its vaccination program. However, measles is still common in many other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa. Even if you do not travel abroad, you can get in touch with measles from any unvaccinated foreign traveler who contracts measles while he is in another country.
Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk.
5) How to protect yourself against measles
The best measles vaccine is measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). The MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all measles strains.
Your child needs two doses of MMR vaccine for optimal protection:
The first dose between 12 and 15 months
The second dose of 4 to 6 years
For you who are going to travel abroad, the vaccine recommendations are a bit different:
If your child is between 6 and 11 months old, he or she should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before leaving.
If your child is at least 12 months old, he will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine (spaced at least 28 days) before departure.
The measles vaccine is very effective. One dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective in preventing measles if exposed to the virus. Two doses are effective at about 97%.
6) Make sure you are protected against measles before international travel
Before any international trip, adolescents and adults who do not have evidence of immunity to measles should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
Acceptable evidence of immunity against measles include at least one of the following: written documentation of the proper vaccination (your vaccination record), laboratory evidence of immunity.
Discuss vaccination with your health care provider and your child's pediatrician before migrating.
Source link
