 |
    |
|
| > | Diphtheria |
| > | Hepatitis A |
| > | Hepatitis B |
| > | Hib Infection |
| > | Influenza |
| > | Japanese Encephalitis |
| > | Measles |
| > | Meningococcal Disease |
| > | Mumps |
| > | Pertussis |
| > | Pneumococcal Disease |
| > | Polio |
| > | Rabies |
| > | Rubella |
| > | Tetanus |
| > | Tick-borne Encephalitis |
| > | Tuberculosis |
| > | Typhoid Fever |
| > | Varicella |
| > | Yellow Fever |
What is Measles?
Where is Measles a problem?
What are the complications of Measles?
Prevention of Measles
Measles is an acute viral illness which is very infectious. It causes a high fever and a rash.
The virus is spread through droplet spread, that is respiratory secretions of an infected person to one who is not immune.
The incubation period of measles is about ten days, with a further two to four days before the rash appears. It is highly infectious in the phase immediately before symptoms appear to four days after the appearance of the rash.
The usual symptoms of measles include a head cold, conjunctivitis (red, sore, swollen eyes), bronchitis, rash and a fever.
Measles is a major health problem, especially in the developing world. The introduction of measles vaccine and the MMR vaccine has led to a decrease in the number of measles notifications. However the uptake of MMR in Ireland is not high enough to prevent a build up of susceptible children with consequent outbreaks in 1993 and 2000.
What are the complications of Measles?
The most common complications of measles infection are otitis media (7-9% of cases), pneumonia (1-6%), diarrhoea (8%), convulsions (one in 200). Other more rare complications include encephalitis (overall rate of one per 1000 cases of measles) and sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis (SSPE). Overall complications of measles are more common and more severe in poorly nourished and chronically ill children, including those who are immunosuppressed.
Measles is a serious disease which can be prevented by vaccination. In Ireland vaccination against measles infection is included in the childhood vaccination schedule. The vaccine is part of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) combined vaccine. The first dose is given at 12 months and a second dose at 4 to 5 years.
Reference: Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland, 2008 Edition. National Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
IR00101 12/11