Measles Update

5.4.2018

As has been reported in media there several cases of measles in our state.    There was a distinct outbreak in 2015, and in early 2014 that reached over 130 people across the country including three in our state.  These two outbreaks have refocused the concern that families whose children who are not properly vaccinated against measles (and other vaccine preventable diseases) have unknowingly relied on faulty medical information to guide them.  Of note, there are some uncommon medical diseases that will make a child not fit to be vaccianted but these are uncommon, and these children are in the small minority of those unvaccinated.  In either case, your child's health is our biggest concern.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that causes fever, upper respiratory symptoms (such as runny nose, cough, sore throat, red eyes), red dots in the inner aspects of the cheeks, and rash which starts at the hairline and moves down the body. People are contagious from about 4 days before until 4 days after the rash appears. The spread is through the respiratory system (coughing/sneezing) and people may not realize they are sick at the onset of symptoms. Most people recover in 2 weeks. However, complications can be severe and include pneumonia, encephalitis (which often results in permanent brain damage in approximately 1/1,000 cases), meningitis, deafness and death (1-3 deaths/1,000 cases of measles). Even if a person has a mild case of measles there is a small risk of developing a devestating neurological illness, subacute sclerosing encephalitis, years after the infection.

 

Full immunization against measles includes 2 vaccine doses. The first dose is between 12 and 15 months and again at 3 years of age. In case of travel to an area where the incidence of measles is high, or if there is an unexpected exposure  to measles, the vaccine schedule can be modified so to protect the person.

We understand that with the vast amount of information available from social media, and elsewhere, it is easy to receive conflicting and confusing viewpoints, but the scientific community, the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics follow sound, strict scientific research when vaccination recommendations are made.  Please feel free to schdeule an appointment to discuss concerns regarding this issue, or to update any vaccines that your child may need.

 

For further information please go to the CDC website: 

    www.cdc.gov/measles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


4/3/2018
Immunizations-making it easier
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Essex Office One Wildwood Medical Center
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