If You ve Had the Measles Can You Get Them Again

Measles cases in the U.S. climbed to a 25-yr high in April, according to the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention. The 704 confirmed cases of measles and then far this year have affected 22 states, including Florida. Although the viral infection was declared "eliminated" from the U.S. in 2000, this year's rapid spread of measles has become a serious public health concern. Increasing numbers of travelers catch the viral infection abroad and bring it into the U.S., spreading it among pockets of people who are unvaccinated.

Symptoms and Risks

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne illness that spreads through coughing and sneezing. Early symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a sore throat. As the infection progresses, tiny white spots may announced inside the mouth and a crimson rash starts on the face and works its mode downwards to the anxiety. The condition can progress chop-chop.

As many equally 1 in 20 children with measles will get pneumonia, which is the major cause of death from measles. One in 1,000 children with measles will develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which tin can lead to brain harm. I or two children per ane,000 with measles will dice from it. Finally, vii to 10 years afterward contracting measles, one person per 100,000 will develop subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and inevitably die of this devastating encephalon inflammation.

Separating Measles Facts from Fiction

Thanks to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, measles is highly preventable. Vaccinations are a disquisitional tool for preventing the spread of measles, simply some Americans notwithstanding believe the vaccine is unsafe and the disease is not serious.

That's why it's important to carve up what's truth from fiction. Here are 10 myths about measles—and the existent facts.

Myth # 1: Simply children can become measles.

Fact: While adults have a significantly lower risk of contracting measles, in some cases they should yet be vaccinated. Commencement off, most adults built-in earlier 1957 are considered immune due to having had or been exposed to the measles. Merely if y'all were born between 1957 and 1989, and have non had the measles or received two doses of the measles vaccine, you lot should get vaccinated. Why? People born betwixt 1957 and 1989 may only have had ane dose of the measles vaccine and may have had ane of the earlier, less effective vaccines.

In this case, especially if you lot are in an area where there are measles cases or are traveling to high-risk areas, yous should get a second dose of the MMR. The take chances of complications from measles is higher in adults, so older adults who feel they may be at risk should consult their doc.

Myth #2: Everyone should get the measles vaccine.

Fact: Not everyone should receive the MMR vaccine. Babies younger than vi months cannot be vaccinated. People built-in before 1957 or who already have had the measles or the measles vaccine serial practice non need to be vaccinated. Furthermore, patients whose immune systems are not normal or who are on medications that suppress the immune organization should not get live virus vaccines like the MMR. Instead, these patients depend upon others to be vaccinated to keep the diseases out of their communities.

Thank you to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, measles is highly preventable.

Myth #three: There are natural ways to prevent measles, so I don't demand the vaccine.

Fact: There are no natural preventive measures for measles. I tin can't stress this enough—vaccinations are the single about effective way to prevent yourself from contracting measles. Some patients are concerned most the MMR vaccine, just that's because it's difficult to sift through all the conflicting information out in that location. The best affair patients tin do is read nigh vaccines on accurate sites such equally the CDC website and talk to their md.

Myth #iv: The measles vaccine causes autism.

Fact: This is absolutely not true. This idea may have emerged from the fact that the MMR is given around the showtime altogether, which is about the same time that the signs of autism become much more than obvious and autism is diagnosed. Numerous large studies have failed to show any connexion betwixt the MMR vaccine and autism. This allegation has go "onetime news" and is simply untrue. For a good recounting of the MMR-autism story, I recommend the book, The Panic Virus, by Seth Mnookin. It is a great read and an authentic account of what happened in the false medical science world to create this disinformation.

Myth #v: My child is simply a yr quondam, and that's too young to be vaccinated.

Fact: Most children become their get-go measles vaccine when they are betwixt 12 and 15 months quondam. With the current situation, we at present recommend that these vaccinations begin at 12 months. If at that place'southward a local outbreak, we even recommend that children as young as half dozen months go vaccinated. The potential problem with early immunization is that many babies even so take enough antibodies in their bodies from their mothers that the vaccine won't work finer. When we vaccinate early in the example of an outbreak, we re-vaccinate at 12 months and again at age 4 to make sure the child is protected.

Myth #6: You don't need to get a "booster" shot if you've already received the measles vaccine.

Fact: A "booster" shot isn't so much a "booster" as information technology is a fail-condom in example the first vaccine didn't work. We used to give a 2d shot of the measles vaccine when a child was between 4 to half dozen years former. Currently, due to the outbreak, we practise this at age 4. The first dose immunizes almost 93 per centum of patients, and by the second dose nosotros achieve immunity for more than 97 percentage of patients. Meaning, this 2nd dose protects most patients who for some reason didn't respond to their first vaccine.

Myth #seven: You can become the measles multiple times, fifty-fifty if yous've already had it.

Fact: Not true. Unlike the chicken pox, measles do not come dorsum one time your system is cleared of the virus.

Myth #8: Getting the vaccine ensures I won't go the measles.

Fact: Unfortunately, no vaccine is perfect. Later on one dose of the MMR, vii out of 100 children are still non immune. After two doses, almost three children in 100 still are non immune. This illustrates another reason why we depend upon i another to vaccinate all of our children (and ourselves) then that the affliction never has a run a risk to spread within the community.

Myth #9: I'm at a higher risk of contracting measles if I visit a theme park in Orlando.

Fact: Correct now, the biggest hazard of contracting measles is living in a community with a high rate of unvaccinated people or traveling to an area of the world where measles rates are loftier due to low vaccination rates. Measles outbreaks in the U.S. typically showtime with exposure from an "imported" instance. In other words, an infected patient travels to the U.S. with a case of the measles. Measles then works like the "canary in a coal mine" model, traveling easily through the community past infecting literally everyone who is not immune.

Since Orlando is a tourist destination for many international travelers from places with lower immunization rates, we are at risk. But people who already have had the measles vaccine series are personally at very low risk to contract the virus.

Myth # 10: Proper mitt washing tin can prevent measles.

Fact: Good manus washing is very important for preventing affliction. Still, measles is then contagious that even tiny particles with live measles virus stay in the air after a contagious person has left a room. In medical situations, nosotros close the room for at least several hours and sanitize surfaces to prevent the virus from spreading.

The best manner to foreclose measles is to get vaccinated according to the immunization schedule recommended by the CDC. Remember, measles is a serious affliction that could pb to serious complications. If you're concerned near the vaccine, talk to your doctor, enquire questions and go the right information and then you can make the best decision to protect your health, your family's health and that of anybody in our community.

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Source: https://www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com/content-hub/10-common-myths-about-measlesand-the-real-facts

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