Measles?

[Blackduck]

DS (1 year just. - yesterday...) was crabby at the weekend, but I thought it was teeth (he's cutting the big front ones...) Rash on back/front on Tues (thought it was washing powder reaction). Checked behind ears - nothing. Yesterday rash everywhere - DR this morning says measles. Yet he's not off colour or off his food? and I thought he was too young for measles. Has got cough and runny nose (but not runny eyes...) Have search board and read other threads, but would like some thoughts....also anyone know of a good picture/description of the rash so I can compare? (BTW feel like a totally cr*p mother...!)

I found this page with lots of photos of measles rashes.

Don't feel guilty - it's nothing you did or didn't do that caused him to catch measles. It's is extremely contagious.

usually children are pretty poorly with measles at least for a couple of days (although mild cases aren't unknown). The cough is very husky as well. The rash usually starts on the forehead and moves down. It's blotchy. The diagnostic way to tell is if you see koplik's spots in the mouth- but they go by the time the rash comes out. Are you sure the doc didn't say german measles?

I thought my son may have had measles but the doc said it couldn't be as he wasn't ill enough and he would be in bed for 2 weeks with measles (which is crap- I had it and was ill for 2 or 3 days). When I said he hadn't had MMR the doc said it must be german measles. I said it wasn't as his brother had had it recently and he was now outside the incubation period and anyway the rash as different. Dr then said he's never seen measles anyway so wouldn't recognse it!

If he has got it I think its very mild.....it definatley did not start on face/neck - satrted on torso....the cough is quite dry. Looking at the photos he is no where near as bad as any of them (well he might be when I get home!)

Blackduck- I suspect the doctor has misdiagnosed. Very few actually see a measles rash these days. I had a standard course of measles (ie not serious) and I was retching into a a bowl for a couple of days with a high temp. Temp is usually above 40. (Although having said that if he got it at one it may be mild if he had some antibodies left from you- did you have measles as a child?)

Message withdrawn

Jimjams - yes I did have measles (at about the same age he is funnily enough...) I am just not convinced it is that because he isn't really miserable ......!

god its so difficult to get a definate on these things! Its a nightmare really.....!!

One thing you can do if you think it is measles (although I have my doubts if he's so well) is to give vitamin A. It has to be in the form of retinol (the stuff you don't routinely give to children as too much is toxic). Easiest way to dose up is to give cod liver oil (unless you have a child who will eat liver). Capsules can be cut open and out on cool toast and covered with honey or whatever if they won't take it neat. Vitamin A reduces incidence of complications and lessens the length of the disease.

Jimjams thanks for the comments and advice...also still not convinced it is measles myself...The spots/rash are not merging as all the info on measles says it will..The rash is not really that red, its more like you can feel it rather than see it....

i read somewhere that vit C is also good to help with measles.

Spoke to my brother's neighbour who is a Dr and described the symptoms. She reckoned one of three possible things in order of preferrence:

1. Non-specific viral rash 9probably result of teething...)
2. Scarletina
3. Rubella. She is pretty sure it isn't measles because the rash is so pale and made up of tiny spots (like running your hand over fine sandpaper...) and the fact he really isn't ill. Still can't go back to nursery until its gone though which is causing a major domestic crisis!

Yeah- ds1's rubella rash was like that. I would have thought it was a heat rash if I hadn't know that he had been exposed to rubella 14 days before. He wasn't ill with it either

measles they usually get very high temps and sleep a lot. My dd had measles in Feb and got a temp of 44degrees and was poorly for 16 days.
She also had really bad conjunctivitis and would not eat anything but did drink milk.
Did the doc check insdei the mouth for the Koplik spots, even when rash shows there should still be faint spots left? If he suspects it then he has to report it as it is notifiable and you will get sent a swab to take off his gums when he is s abit better, this confirms it.

Dr did check in his month, but I don't hink has gone down the notify route...I think she probably meant it is a 'measles-type' rash (ie could be any of the 3 things my brother's Dr suspects....