German Measles

[wellsie]

Has anyone out there had their child vaccinated but they've still ended up getting German Measles.
DS is 20 months and had his MMR at 14 months but I'm convinced he's got German Measles. I've taken him to the doctor but they said it would be highly unusual if did have it and just put it down to a virus.
I'm not too concerned if he does have it as I know it's not a huge problem for us but I'm sure I'm right and the doctor was just fobbing?? me off.
Any advice would be welcomed

[PrettyCandles]

You could both be right - German Measles is a viral illness. I don't know how specifically it can be diagnosed, but I would have thought that if it was GM then it would be important to know as obviously in that case the MMR hasn't worked. It doesn't 'take' in everybody, that's why there is a pre-school booster.

I had either GM or ordinary Measles more than once each as a child, and each time the infection was milder, until the GP said that he couldn't tell exactly what it was. It's not unheard of, but very unlikely, to get them more than once.

It's not going to make your ds very ill - if it does, then it's not GM! But keep him indoors and isolate him if poss, as it's very contagious and dangerous of course to pregnant woman. I can't remember how long you have to quarantine him for, but I'm sure someone else will know, or know where to look it up.

[Nevada]

Could it be Roseola infantum?

According to my old baby care book, it's often confused with German Measles. It's a sudden high temperature of 39-40 degrees. When temp returns to normal, a rash of pale red spots develops. With slight cold symptoms.

My mum was convinced I had GM twice when I was a kid, but maybe I had this and GM.

[Sparks]

Maybe it could be slapped cheek disease, which is also caused by a virus.

The only way you could be certain about whether it's GM or roseola or slapped cheek or something else would be to have a blood test. This hardly seems worth it considering they are all mild illnesses that go away on their own without treatment.

[Marina]

Ds was at nursery with a child who had his MMR on schedule and got a terrible case of GM six months later. As others have said, it does happen. I think there is close on a 20% failure to take rate on the first jab.

[wellsie]

Thanks for your messages. DS seems fine in himself but perhaps a little more tired than usual and he has had a cold. The spots are still there and after his nap this lunchtime his cheeks were very red and spotty.
I think the reason I felt fobbed off this morning is because I know that GP's have to inform the Public Health Authority if they diagnose a case of GM and the GP seemed to have a bit of a "Can't be bothered" attitude.
I've kept DS off nursery and we've had a very boring day at home. I'm going to keep him at home all week just to be sure.

[NannyL]

ive been vacinated against german measels and still got it when i was 18

[justmummy]

Yes, my DD had MMR at 14 months and about 5 months later had German Measles. It wasn't definitely confirmed, no blood tests done. But GP i saw was convinced it was.
Didn't realise at the time they had to report it, but then a couple of weeks later, ds had a note sent home from school to say a child linked to the school had been diagnosed with German Measles and for everyone to be aware of symptoms.

[LIZS]

Agree with Sparks . It does sound as if it could be Slapped Cheek/Fifth Disease - starts off spotty then very ruddy cheeks, leading to lacy-patterned rash with temperature, generally unwell, runny nose etc .

Does he go to nursery as it is very common in that sort of close contact situation among small children. Can be harmful to pg women who are not immune to the virus which causes it.