Why is a cold winter likely to influence how severe measles is?

[Socci]

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BTW thinking about the original question. Measles is a respiratory illness- very infectious - so I guess a cold winter with everyone inside with windows shut would increase the likelihood of it being passed on. Shouldn't affect the severity of individual cases though - that tends to depend more on vitamin A status!

Jimjams - thanks for that. No I don't mean I really would vaccinate him, I just mean I wish there was some way I could protect him (it's only 6 weeks since I gave birth so emotions are even more heightened than normal and I'm scared).

Your words were reassuring, though I'll have to check with my mother whether I had a measles jab as I didn't have measles as a child (got a nasty feeling I had the first jab and not the second because I was unwell after the 1st!).

Thanks for link to the other thread though I'll go through it later as need to dash off to nursery!

Jimjams - I think you are right. I didn't hear the conversation properly on This Morning but I remember Dr Chris Steele saying it was something about all being inside with central heating on (?!?!?).

There was still a lot of measles around in the 70s- depends how old you are. I was born in 1970- if you are around my age then even if you only had the first jab-you WILL have had quite a lot of exposure to measles anyway- and each of those occasions will have acted as a booster- so you may well have quite good protection.

Aslo the chances of actually being in contact with measles are very low so I wouldn't worry too much!

I was born in 1972 so not much younger than you (but I wasn't around before £'s and pence ) - OK, I'll try not to stress.

It's just under 4 years since I gave birth, and my emotions are still even more heightened than normal and I'm still scared for my dd. DD was only just a few days old when her father and I first argued about whether vaccinating her and against what and we are still at it now! I had mumps and measles and I remember it very well. I've got five siblings not to mention the number of cousins who all had those childhood diseases and lived to tell the tale... Which is why I think the only way I will stop worrying is when DD has had mumps and measles. But, of course, until then I will worry whether it is the right choice..., which is why dp and I compromised and had her vaccinated with the single measles jab...

Jimjams, what does depending on Vitamin A status mean? (Shouldn't affect the severity of individual cases though - that tends to depend more on vitamin A status!)

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Bollocks - my niece is currently in ICU with measles. very poorly. wouldnt have happened without all this vaccination hysteria.

She is only 9 months so not old enough for either. lack of herd immunity for no good reason that bugs me.

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Sorry to hear about your niece. It is worth asking the hopsital about iv retinol- reduced complictions and severity- there is now published work on this.

I have written on here before that this (infants catching measles) is my biggest fear with the introduction of vaccination. In the pre-vaccination days adults were immune to measles (couldn't escape it basically- lifelong immunity etc) and so passive immunity was passed onto babies. This generally lasted 12 monthish and so it was rare for babies to get measles. Now the groups who are getting measles are infants (whose mothers didn't have measles) and adults- the 2 groups who used to be immune and who have the highest % of complications.

Unfortunately MMR is not all that great at producing immunity (and with the current schedule wears off anyway- still say they'll have to introduce regular boosters). My own son caight rubella from a child who had had MMR (which was why his mum didn't realise he had it- and spread it everywhere). Measles outbreaks have been recorded in populations with supposedly 100% immunity.

Veggie- most complications are recorded if children are deficient in vitamin A. This is why measles is such a killer in developing countries. Published research has now shown that giving iv retinol to children with measles reduced the lenght of time it lasts and the severity of the disease. However it has to be retinol that is given (not carotenes) I just mention that because of your name-(retinol is from animla products). In our case ds1 is given a daily dose of cod liver oil anyway for the contains vitamin A (lots of autistics have been shown to be low in vitamin A which is interesting given that the MMR damaged kids have measles virus in places they shouldn't be- hasn't been looked at much though). Last year I thought ds2 may be getting measles so I gave him a few doses of cod liver oil as well- just in case.

There is a list somewhere (on the internet?) where you can register to be told if another child on the list develops one of the childhood diseases. if one does then you can go for a tea party. If your child has had a measles vaccination- the best way to top up immunity is expose her to someone with measles. if I ever find the list I'll post the details! (maybe the informed parent, or jabs would know?)