Measles

Signs and Symptoms

1. Fever as high as 105 degrees.

2. Swollen glands.

3. Runny nose & dry cough.

4. Watery red eyes that are sensitive to light

5. Loss of appetite; and muscles pain.

6. Painless, small, gray or white bumps surrounded by red rings in the mouth.

7. Red bumps that start on the face and neck, and then spread down the abdomen and back to the arms and legs.

What to do now

1. Give your child lots of fluids to drink.

2. Encourage your child to rest in bed as much as possible.

3. Try to keep your child’s room humidified.

4. If your child’s eyes are sensitive to light, darken the bedroom.

5. If your child has minor aches or pains, or if fever is causing discomfort, you can give acetaminophen. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who illness your suspect of being caused by a virus).

6. Keep your child away from anyone who is not immune to measles.

When to call a doctor

1. If your child has headache, is sensitive to bright light, and feels so drowsy that it is difficult to awake him or her. These can be warning signs of encephalitis.

2. If your child develops a fever of 102 degrees or higher (100 degrees or higher for infants six months or younger.)

3. If your child has a feeling of painful or not painful fullness in the ear.

4. If your child has chills, sweating, and chest pain.

5. If your child is short of breath while resting.

6. If your child develops any kind of rash or other infection diseases can have symptoms that resemble measles.

How to prevent it

Ensure that your child gets immunizations against MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella).