Medical breaking news Measles outbreak
If you were born before 1957, you don’t need to get a measles vaccine
For once it’s good to be old that is when it comes to Measles.The reason is if you were born before 1957 you don’t need to get a measles vaccine.Since most people in the United States probably have a natural immunity because they contracted Measles when they were younger.However ,people born after 1957 hopefully received the measles vaccine. Although ,there was an inactivated or dead virus vaccine that was not particularly effective which was administered between 1963 and 1967.So if you received a vaccinationprior to 1968 you may well need to get vaccinated. The best way to check if you are immunized or not is to get a simple blood test in which to determine whether or not you have antibodies protecting you against the measles virus.
The reason I’m even talking about this is because there has been a major outbreak of measles in Texas.In fact,Texas is facing one of its worst measles “rubeola”outbreaks in decades as cases have increased from 2 to 146 in just over a month. Furthermore,one child is dead and 20 more have been hospitalized. All of this has caused health officials to start setting up vaccine clinics and encouraging people to get immunized. The measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. The first vaccine is usually administered to children between the ages of 12 to 15 months. The second should be delivered between ages 4 to 6. Also ,teenagers and adults who have not been vaccinated and do not have any natural immunity should be required to get vaccinated.
The measles vaccine is highly contagious because it’s an airborne virus and it’s been suggested that if one person contracts measles, they will easily pass it on to 18 others relatively quickly. Prior to vaccines being available almost 500 children would die each year due to measles. The most effective way to prevent transmission which I cannot underscore enough is through vaccinations.
The main symptoms of measles include a high temperature, a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and red, sore watery eyes. The symptoms will usually go away on their own within 2 to 3 weeks. however.it can lead to serious complications and the only treatment is essentially relieving the symptoms. Treatment includes lots of bed rest ,plenty of fluids ,avoid dehydration, take acetaminophen for your aches and pains and fever and use warm water to remove any crust from your eyes.
The symptoms will usually begin about 7 to 14 days after you’ve been infected and this is especially dangerous for babies and young children. You may notice spots which are called koplic spots appear on the inside of the mouth two or three days after the symptoms begin. A measles rash usually occurs about 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms and begins with flat red spots appearing on your face at the hairline. It may spread down to your neck, your trunk, your arms, your legs, and even to your feet. It appears as small raised bumps or as flat red spots.The rash can sometimes be itchy and looks quite blotchy as well.you should consider yourself to be contagious from four days prior to the onset of your rash to four days after the rash has erupted.
Measles is especially dangerous to children, younger than the age of five and older adults older ,as well as pregnant women and of course anyone with a compromised immune system. Some of the complications include pneumonia and encephalitis. Again, the only way to prevent measles is to prevent exposure to it and get vaccinated.Your doctor can do a clinical evaluation and laboratory blood test as well as a throat swap or nasal swab and urine test to confirm the diagnosis.
In addition you can be tested to determine if you have immunity to the measles to detect antibodies in which case you will not need to be immunized.at the end of the day, I cannot underscore the importance of getting your children and yourself immunized for measles.
