Measles outbreaks: symptoms, treatment and prevention: What parents need to know – UC Davis Health

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With measles outbreaks occurring now throughout the U.S., UC Davis Health experts advise parents to be aware of the symptoms and call a health care provider if they suspect that their child has measles.Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases atUC Davis Childrens Hospital, also answers some frequently asked questions about measles.

Symptoms usually begin 10-14 days after exposure to the virus. Measles starts with a fever, which can be very high. Cough, runny nose and red eyes are common. One of the most distinctive features of measles is a red, spotty rash that starts at the head and then spreads downward over the rest of the body. Complications can include diarrhea, dehydration, ear infections, pneumonia, blindness and inflammation of the brain.

Measles is highly contagious. The virus particles are very small and can be suspended in the air up to two hours. So, a person with measles who enters and then leaves a room can infect others who enter that same room for up to two hours, without direct person-to-person contact. Measles can also live on infected surfaces for up to two hours. If one person has measles, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.

Out of every 1,000 cases, about one to two people, die from measles. Before widespread measles vaccinations in the U.S., 500 children died from measles every year. The World Health Organization reported 136,000 deaths globally from measles in 2022, mostly among children.

The MMR vaccine protects children from measles, mumps and rubella (also known as German measles) by exposing them to live, weakened forms of the viruses that cause these diseases. Most children do not experience any side effects from the shot. Side effects that do occur are usually very mild and include low-grade fever, transient rash and mild, temporary soreness or swelling where the shot was given.

The first dose of the measles vaccination is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age. The second dose is routinely given between 4 and 6 years of age. The first dose protects children 95 to 97 percent of the time. The second dose increases a childs protection from measles to about 99 percent. By the time children enter school, they should have the two doses.

The majority of adults are immune because they typically either had measles as children or received a measles vaccination. I encourage adults to talk with their health care providers about getting the MMR vaccine if they are unsure of their immunity status. There is no danger in getting the vaccine, even if youve already had the measles or the vaccine.

It is a good idea to vaccinate previously unvaccinated children who are potentially exposed to measles. It doesn't guarantee that they wont get the disease, however it can lessen the severity if they do.

There were a lot of concerns about this because of a now discredited publication. Since then, many scientific studies in the U.S. and other countries involving millions of children have reached the same conclusion: The MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Read the UC Davis MIND Institutes statement on vaccines and autism.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles. Treatment is generally supportive such as IV fluids if patients are dehydrated, or respiratory support such as supplemental oxygen if they are having difficulty breathing. Children with measles should stay home from school and activities, rest and drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration.

If you suspect your child may have measles, contact your health care provider and ask if your child can be seen in an isolation room.

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Measles outbreaks: symptoms, treatment and prevention: What parents need to know - UC Davis Health