Measles Help

[whimsy]

My nephew has been diagnosed with a probable mild case of Measles. He has had the MMR but my ds 22mths hasn't, I've been holding off giving him the MMR and finally booked him in for it next friday. What should i do he has been around ds, ds has a cold and has been sick and sleepy, should i phone doctors, could he have it? I thought you couldn't get Measles if you've had the MMR. Anyone got any advice

Have just thought, my other sister has been in contact this week and she is 24weeks could it harm the baby?

MMR fails in something like 10% of children, so one in ten will get measles (or one of the others, mumps or rubella) anyway, if exposed. That's why the recommend a preschool booster, which brings the population immunity to more like 99%.

If it were me I'd just keep a closer eye on your DS than usual.

Has she had measles herself, whimsy? Or a jab for it? If so, she's almost certainly safe.

No I don't think she has to be honest

Is your mum alive, can you ask her if your preggo sis had measles ever?

Else I'd phone your preggo sister and tell her there's a hypothetical risk to the baby (no point in scaring her, so keep the language low key) so she should consult her GP/Midwife, and otherwise stay away from the nephews until she knows more. NetDoctor talks about damage to the fetus, but I don't think it's anything like as bad as getting rubella when pregnant.

Thanks Zebra, will call now.

According to this it could have serious effects on the baby. I agree that there's not much point in worrying her unecessarily, but perhaps she should see her doctor or midwife to check it out.

when was she born whimsey? if she was a child in the 60's/70's then she will probably have antibodies of some sort- there was enough around then that this generation is generally OK antibody wise. The hospital can check for antibodies anyway.

Don't worry too much about your ds. Even if he gets measles at 22 months it's unlikely to be serious. You could give him a daily dose of homeopathic morbillinum for the next week - you would have to get it from a specialist supplier though- Ainsworths are very good - order it today online and it will be with you tomorrow/Monday at the latest. You could also give him some cod liver oil (just one teaspoon a day) for say a week. After measles exposure is the one time you want extra vitamin A- even if you're a child- reduces the length of the illness and the severity. Personally I would wait until he's out of the incubation period before going ahead with the MMR if you've had a definite exposure. However cod liver oil etc is all good preparaton for the MMR anyway so don't worry a out giving that!