Measles (also called rubeola or morbilli) was once one of the most common childhood infections in North America. In the early 1960s, over half a million children were infected every year. In 1963, the creation of a measles vaccine changed everything. Today, while very few new cases of measles occur each year in developed countries, it still occurs in epidemic proportions in developing regions, infecting around 10 million people and causing around 100,000 to 200,000 deaths worldwide.
Even though a majority of patients recover from infection, measles can have serious complications. Early in infection, the brain tissue can become inflamed (encephalitis). A later complication can occur several years later, causing brain damage.
Measles is one of the most contagious vaccine-preventable infections in humans. The one antigenic type of the measles virus is only found in humans. This means that if high immunization rates are maintained, it may be possible to eradicate this virus, just like smallpox and polio.
Measles is caused by a type of virus called a paramyxovirus. It is a highly contagious virus, usually transmitted in tiny droplets when an infected person coughs, breathes, or sneezes. The measles virus can also survive for approximately 2 hours on infected surfaces like doorknobs and telephones. Research shows that only 10% of unvaccinated people who share a house with a measles patient avoid infection.
Like the common cold, measles is a viral infection that the body will fight off and will go away with time. There are no medications that can kill off the virus, so the only useful treatments are those that help relieve symptoms. For example, medications like acetaminophen* or ibuprofen can reduce fever and other symptoms. Cough or sore throat medications may also help.
Doctors may prescribe high doses of vitamin A to children who have measles, especially those at risk. Children at risk include those who are in the hospital because of measles, and those who have a suppressed immune system, have a vitamin A deficiency, or have recently moved from countries where the death rate from measles is high.
Over 95% of children fully vaccinated against modern measles are protected against the disease. As far as we know, it is a lifelong protection. In about 15% of cases, people may get a very mild, non-contagious form of measles about 10 days after vaccination. This is due to the fact that the vaccine contains a live but weakened strain of the virus.
For expectant parents who’ve already had measles, their newborn babies are protected for about a year due to the transfer of special antibodies from the parent’s immune system. Because of this, the measles vaccine may not work in a child’s first year of life. The common practice in children is to vaccinate once at 12 to 15 months of age, and to give a booster shot at 4 to 6 years of age (before they attend school). The measles vaccine is commonly given in the same injection as the mumps and rubella vaccine, in what is commonly known as MMR vaccine
The vaccine can prevent measles from developing in people who have been exposed to the virus, but it only works if it’s given within 72 hours of exposure. Generally, the measles vaccine isn’t given to babies less than one year old, pregnant women, or people with severely damaged immune systems. If a pregnant person or newborn baby is exposed to the measles virus, they will be given a transfusion of immune serum globulin instead. This contains special antibodies that defend the body against the virus.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Measles
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