Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: measles + rubeola + rubella  Related to the article below (Last Update: 12/1/2008)

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Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: rubeola + measles + 0.17  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/7/2008)

BBC News Measles confirmed in Hennepin County Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - Measles is a serious, highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the rubeola virus. It is the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses, ... Focus: MMR vaccine TeleText all 183 news articles » Minnesota tracking two cases of measles Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - Measles is a serious, highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the rubeola virus. It is the most deadly of all childhood illnesses that present with ... SCHOOL REGISTRATION Inside NoVA, VA - Jul 31, 2008 All students are required to present evidence of having two doses of the rubeola measles vaccine. Students who have had one dose have 90 days from the date ... Now's the time to register The Huntsville Times - al.com, AL - Jul 31, 2008 Certificate of immunization against diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles (rubella, rubeola, including a documentation of a second dose of measles-containing ... Georgia: Measles Alert Lakefront Hartwell, GA - Jul 14, 2008 All suspect measles cases must be laboratory confirmed (rubeola IgM serology and virologic testing for typing). See Measles: Specimen Submission for ... Don?t be late: Time for school kids to be immunized Williamson Daily News, WV - Aug 2, 2008 ... poliomyelitis, rubella, rubeola (measles), tetanus and varicella. Genital human papillomavirus vaccine is also recommended for girls 11-12 years of age. ... State specifics: What the law says about shots Norman Transcript, OK - Jul 23, 2008 Those diseases include: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), measles (rubeola), rubella, poliomyelitis, varicella, ... Brote de sarampi?n en unos 15 estados Roanoke Times, VA - Jul 16, 2008 By Ricardo Valdivieso and Yolanda Puyana Summary: Public health officials report measles outbreaks in 15 states including Virginia, primarily among those ...

Rubeola (Measles)

Signs and Symptoms:
Measles, also called rubeola, is best known for its typical skin rash. It is, however, primarily a respiratory infection. The first symptoms are irritability, runny nose, eyes that are red and sensitive to light, hacking cough, and a fever as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius).

Fever peaks with the appearance of the rash, which typically begins on the forehead, then spreads downward over the face, neck, and body. The child is particularly ill-looking during the first days of the rash. It usually takes about 3 days for the rash to make its way down to the feet. Once the rash appears on the legs and feet, symptoms usually subside within 2 days.

The rash itself looks like large flat red to brown blotches that often flow into one another to completely cover the skin, especially on the face and shoulders. The rash fades in the same order that it appeared, forehead first and feet last. The total time for the rash, from beginning to end, head to toe, is usually about 6 days. As the rash disappears, the healing skin may look brown temporarily, before it sheds in a finely textured peel.

One special identifying sign of measles is Koplik's spots. These are small, red, irregularly-shaped spots with blue-white centers found inside the mouth. Koplik's spots usually appear 1 to 2 days before the measles rash and may be noticed by a doctor looking for the cause of a child's fever and cough.

Measles can lead to many different complications: croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and encephalitis. Measles can also make the body more susceptible to ear infections or pneumonias caused by bacteria. Symptoms and complications of measles are usually most severe in adults.

Description:
Measles is a respiratory infection caused by the measles virus. Before immunization was available, measles occurred in springtime epidemics, usually in cycles of 2 or 3 years.

Infants are generally protected from measles for 6 to 8 months after birth, due to immunity that was passed on from their mothers. Older children are usually immunized against measles according to state and school health regulations. Currently, outbreaks of measles are occurring most often on college campuses, among young persons who have either not been adequately immunized against measles, or whose immunity has decreased since childhood.

Prevention:
Measles is prevented by a vaccine that can be given before, or within 3 days after, exposure to the disease. In most children, measles vaccine is given as part of the mumps-measles-rubella immunizations (MMR) - one given at age 15 months, and the second at 11 to 12 years. Measles vaccine is not usually given to infants younger than 13 months old, except in times of measles outbreaks. In this case, a dose of measles vaccine alone may be given at 9 months, followed by the usual MMR immunization at 15 months.

Measles vaccine made before 1979 may not have been as effective as vaccine made today. Because of this, doctors often recommend that persons vaccinated before 1980 receive another measles vaccination if a measles outbreak occurs in their area, especially if they are in school. A blood test can be performed to determine a person's immunity and whether they need another immunization.

Measles vaccine should not be given to pregnant women, or to persons with active tuberculosis, leukemia, lymphoma, or depressed immune systems. Also, persons with severe allergies to eggs, or to the antibiotic neomycin, may risk life-threatening reactions to measles vaccine.

Measles vaccine occasionally causes side effects in persons with no underlying health problems. In about 10% of cases there is a fever between 5 and 12 days after vaccination, and in about 5% of cases there is a rash.

In special situations (pregnant women, infants, persons with cancer, tuberculosis, or depressed immune systems), persons exposed to measles can also be protected from infection by an injection of antibodies called gamma globulin. Gamma globulin is given within 6 days of exposure, and it either prevents measles or makes symptoms less severe.

As is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. Your doctor should have the most current information regarding recommendations about the measles immunization.

Also, the vaccine shouldn't be given to kids who have a history of severe allergic reaction to gelatin or to the antibiotic neobycin, as they are at risk for serious reactions to the vaccine. These kids can be protected from measles infection with an injection of antibodies called gamma globulin if it's given within 6 days of exposure - these antibodies can either prevent measles or make the symptoms less severe.

Measles vaccine occasionally causes side effects in kids who don't have any underlying health problems. In about 10% of cases the measles vaccine causes a fever 5 and 12 days after vaccination, and in about 5% of cases the vaccine causes a rash, which isn't contagious and usually fades on its own.

Treatment

The symptoms of measles usually lasts for about 2 weeks. It is highly contagious, and 90% of people who haven't been vaccinated for measles will get it if they live in the same household as an infected person.

If your child has been diagnosed with measles, it's important to closely monitor him or her for fever and other symptoms to spot any complications. In some cases, measles can lead to other health problems, such as croup, and infections like bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), myocarditis, and encephalitis. Measles also can make the body more susceptible to ear infections or other health problems caused by bacteria.

If fever is making your child more uncomfortable, you may want to give a non-aspirin fever medication such as acetaminophen. Remember, you should never give aspirin to a child who has a viral illness since the use of aspirin in such cases has been associated with the development of Reye syndrome.

As with any viral infection, encourage your child to drink clear fluids: water, fruit juice, tea, and lemonade. These will help replace bodily fluids your child loses in the heat and sweating of fever episodes.

Use a cool-mist vaporizer to relieve cough and to soothe breathing passages. Clean the vaporizer each day to prevent mold from growing. Avoid hot-water or steam vaporizers that can cause accidental burns and scalds in children.

Children with measles should get extra rest to help them recover. It's usually safe for your child to return to school 7 to 10 days after the fever and rash go away. But to be sure, check with your child's doctor.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor

Call your child's doctor immediately if you suspect that your child has measles. Also, it's important to get medical care if your child:

• is an infant and has been exposed to measles
• is taking medicines that depress the immune system
• has tuberculosis, cancer, or a disease that affects the immune system

Keep track of your child's temperature. Let the doctor know if your child has an earache, since this may be a sign of an infection.

Remember that measles is very rare, and if your child is properly vaccinated it's extremely unlikely that he or she will contract the disease.