Could this be measles?

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

DS has suddenly come up with a red raised rash starting around his chin and going down his chest.

It looks very blotchy just now but not itchy and the spots don't seen fluid filled. They are mostly together and don't look like individual spots.

2 nights ago he had a terrible nights sleep and was running a slight fever but no obvious symptoms. Yesterday he stared with a snotty nose and this afternoon the spots have appeared.

I've googled the rash and it looks exactly like the pictures of the start of measles.

However he seems fine and most of what I've read says he'd have a fever and would feel really rough.

He is 3.11 and had his first mmr jab but due to moving around and not finding a new doc yet we are a little late with his booster.

Is he likely to get measles if he's had the first mmr?

[bigbuttons]

probably not

[bigbuttons]

measles rash is not fluid filled. IME the rash is not sudden either.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

why do you say that Big?

[noblegiraffe]

Has he been exposed to measles? Are you in an outbreak area? He can get measles but it's likely to be something else. Post-viral rash?

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

cross posted sorry.

It's not fluid filled though.

[3littlefrogs]

I would keep him in and observe for 24 hours and see if anything more develops. It is impossible to diagnose over the internet.

[canyou]

IME it is a build up of rash and they may not be very ill [mmr can prevent a bad case of measles] if in doubt would your local chemist look at him for you? Ours would if you are not able to get a GP appt

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

We are in an area with an extremely low mmr uptake and low level outbreaks. It's quite common here but I don't know if he's been exposed.

[Rosa]

Scarlett fever ???

[canyou]

And I mean my chemist popped out to see my DC in the car DO'NT bring him into the chemist

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

Thanks for the replies.

canyou - I'd not want to take him to the chemist if I think it might be measles.

I'm a bit concerned as we as my newborn nephew on Thursday.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

cross post canyou!

[LoveSewingBee]

I would contact your GP and cancel the visit to see the newborn. Even if it is not measles, anything involving rashes (ie other viruses) may be dangerous for a newborn.

Hope he gets better soon and hopefully it is not measles.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

Thanks LoveSewingBee - we saw the newborn on Thursday (and half the city at the sealife centre!) so I was concerned about him already being infectious - whatever it is.

If it's measles then most sites say he could have been infectious for 4 days before the spots appeared today so I think we'd be OK.

It's just going to be a wait and see thing. If he's covered by morning we'll know more. Just had a peek and he has a slight temp and spots on his arms that weren't there when he went to bed at 8 :(

[AuntieStella]

Not all measles cases are severe. It may or may not be measles, but even if it is it doesn't necessarily mean a very sick child just because it can do. (old git here, who remembers the days before any vaccine rolled out).

[triballeader]

Firstly even if you suspect it might be a case of measles call your GP.

This is because measles is a notifiable illness and the HPA can then test to confirm and trace any possible vulnerable contacts to try and halt its spread. This is why there is so much publicity in Wales.


You do not need to have been near an active measles case; all you need is to be exposed to the virus as it is carried by all human populations. As most people have either had measles or a full course of MMR its less likely to appear sparodically but it still can.

It may be something that behaves akin to measles, the first shot of MMR will confire some immunity to the virus but it is not as complete as two doses. For the huge majority unlucky enough to still catch measles with one dose of MMR it should be a less nasty form and hopefully avoid the worst of the high fever..

Watch for red eyes, a cough or symptoms of a cold, a fever which is way over 38.5 its characteristic temp in measles is at 39.5C but can hit way over 41 and make someone very ill.

Your GP will not mind you calling to ask for their advice if you suspect measles. Describe all the symptoms you can including those from when you first noticed your son not feeling well.

Hoping your son has not caught this and its only a post viral rash but if he is that unlucky that he remains relatively well and has a simple case that resolves quickly and feels well soon.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

Thanks Triballeader.

I am going to ring the GP in a bit.

He has a few more spots this morning, a very slight temp and a cold. His eyes seem ok and he's asking for a third breakfast so he must feel ok.

He's just said no one will see his spots so he can still go to nursery today! It was his first day back after the holidays and he's been excited all week bless him.

I guess all the publicity has made me hyper aware of measles just now. We get huge campaigns here too due to the low uptake. You always hear how horrible a disease it is so I guess you just expect the worse with it.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

Just checked in his mouth and he has the white Koplik spots too :( Just trying to get through to the doctor now.

[givemeaclue]

For goodness sake get his jabs sorted, moving house is no excuse for not immunisation your child

[pooka]

Not helpful, givemeaclue (while I do agree that immunisations should be top priority).

I think once You've spoken to the doctor you will also need as a matter of urgency to your brother/brother in law re: their newborn and possible exposure. That is very worrying.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

givemeaclue - not your fault because you didn't know this but we have been moving around because we are homeless.

Our old GP has refused to see us because we are out of the area now. We were placed in temp housing on 24 hour notice so never sure where we would settle.

I've been happy with access to a walk in centre or OOH as my back up (not needed so far) and we are now settled but both local surgeries aren't accepting new patients this month apparently.


I obviously need to get his booster done. I know that. I probably didn't afford it the importance it needed as he has had the first jab and advice about the booster is between the ages of 3 - 5 before they start school so we are within that.


Pooka - I have informed my SIL and spoken to NHS direct and they say he was unlikely to have been contagious on Thursday. She can be alert now for a fever etc and contact her GP if needed just in case.

[MandragoraWurzelstock]

It normally starts on the forehead I think

so unlikely

[triballeader]

If you think your seeing koplik spots definatly do not let him go out and about. Call your current GP or even NHS Direct if your struggling to register with a new practise. They should be able to help if you use the words -'rash and looks like measles.'

Offer pleanty to drink and keep an eye on his temprature. If his temp goes over 38c and he becomes uncomfy use an age approbriate form of paracetomol or other medically advised drug. The fever spikes of measles can leave a kid delirious. NHS Direct has advice on measles.

My daughters measles started as what looked like all over acne on her face and then spread like wildfire over the next two days. The GP cam e and saw her the same day and alerted the HPA. She was a textbook case, ill a couple of weeks and is now back at school telling lurid tales of measles to her friends. [Under oncology for benign tumors so no she could not have MMR and a few other things]

My husband's rash was akin to a scald and caused his body and organs to swell all over and did not break out until after four days of being acutely ill and struggling to breathe in isolation. After three weeks he is still ill with the wretched thing and I am sick of seing spots after its six weeks visitation into my home so far.

That makes me think how the illness initially appears and varys from individual to individual hence the if you suspect it might be call your GP.

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

Well the doctors been and confirmed she thinks it's the start of measles. She is alerting the HPA and we should get sent a swab to take and return for confirmation.

But in the meantime just treat it as measles and stay in isolation for 5 days was the general advice.

He seems quite bright with it so far but we need to keep an eye out for high temps etc.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[duchesse]

give me, unhelpful comment, he'd only be due a pre-school booster of the MMR in the next few months anyway (prior to starting school...)