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Original poster

Measles, anyone know how to diagnose? Worried...

86 replies

Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 11:06

Ds2 has had a bad cold, high temp for about 4 days. Yesterday his temp went back down, but last night he was up all night crying and obv in pain. He started pawing at his forehead, top of head like it hurt and then I noticed a rash on his front and back - it fades thank goodness...
Anyway off to a&e for the out of hours doc at 5am, who said his ear was red, throat looked sore too, but rash was just heat rash - he hasn't been hot though.
Have got antibiotics but am afra\id in case it is something else, why would he be touching his head if his ear hurts - the other side ear is the one that was red.
He's had calpol but is still in a lot of distress and crying.
rash is now all over hed and nek, behind ears etc.

I am just scared in case it is a complication or something, the brain can become inflamed can't it with measles?

I can't bear seeing him in pain.
Thanks for any ideas, it was a gp we saw whom I know was disciplined/deregistered a few years back? So unsure if I can trust him iyswim

sorry typing with 1 finger as ds on lap

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Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:14

I guess we won't know for sure till we do swabs, hmm a government letter arriving, feel quite important now!

Did you get the results, GF3? Or do they just inform your GP?

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yurt1 · 23/02/2008 17:15

FA- please don't panic. Even if it is measles these days complications in well nourished children are rare. My family health book from 1989 - so pre all the MMR furore - talks about it as a mild illness. Just keep an eye on the ears and go back if you're worried, but don't panic. Severe complications are rare.

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:17
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yurt1 · 23/02/2008 17:18

here look vitamin A "retinol therapy" is I think IV vitamin A which is why it's mentioned as being considered for hospitalised cases, but nothing wrong with giving a bit extra vitamin A orally. If you make liver and bacon ever (bleurgh) now's the time to do so. Duck liver pate etc as well. (although don't eat the liver or duck liver if you're pregnant!)

yurt1 · 23/02/2008 17:21

Honestly the book I have here is very reassuring about measles. The attitude is just that its something that's annoying but that a full quick recovering is expected. It talks about vaccination (then just the single) and says you may as well have it as it's available so you save yourself the bother, but the whole thing has a very different tone than the measles information you read now.

If it is measles you should start to see an improvement in a few days now the rash has come out.

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:21

Gosh
But it's weird how the ones with ear infections had higher retinol, isn't it? What's that about?

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yurt1 · 23/02/2008 17:23

Yes, but I suspect it just meant they weren't reacting as badly as the others. I think it was 'higher in comparison to other hospitalised cases' rather than higher in comparison to non-hospitalised. Although its hard to tell from the abstract. if I have time I'll see if I can get the whole article later when the boys are in bed.

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:24

I will gp find my old book too

I'm not pg...though when I was, my best book to read was Gordon Bourne, who wrote in the 60s. He was a peer of Truby King I think! He is out of date but bloody brilliant, and covers everything, I mean everything.

Nowadays books say 'ask your hv if you are concerned' but he was in there with decent explanations and real answrs. I heart gordon 'un' bourne child

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yurt1 · 23/02/2008 17:24

oh i might have that wrong, need to get whole paper- but I read it as meaning they're doing better than the ones with things like pneumonia (so low retinol and you risk pneumonia - high and you get an ear infection iyswim).

yurt1 · 23/02/2008 17:25

oh I had gordon bourne but lost my temper with him when he said you should apply your make-up after the birth to greet the father or something

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:25

sorry 'go' not 'gp'

can you tell someone is asleep on lap again...

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Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:26

roffle!!!

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Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 17:27

My doula was instructed to apply mine while I was being stitched

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goingfor3 · 23/02/2008 17:49

The HPA did send the results to my gp and asked for us to have a second set of swabs about 6 weeks after the first were taken, the secnd time the nurse was instructed to do the swabs and she had a letter confirming that the first tests were positive. It is a nasty disease and the info you read today can be really frightening but I think our children will be as scared of their children catching chicken poxs as we are of them getting mealses as they will have standard vacines against it and as has already been mentioned most of the worse complications happen to children who are under nourished and would probably react badly to any childhood disease.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 23/02/2008 17:55

8 months - so tiny.

Hope he is okay if it is measles.

yurt1 · 23/02/2008 18:08

8 months is probably a good age to get measles as you've had it. Your antibody protection will just be wearing off (enough to catch it- but not enough to get a bad dose- so should be 'helped' by those remaining antibodies). That's a bit unscientific but just judging from an answer a paed gave me about ds2 exposed to chickenpox at 8 months.

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 23/02/2008 18:12

That makes me feel a bit better, thanks so much for holding my hand today! Nab Sorry I hijacked your thread x

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yurt1 · 23/02/2008 18:15

Apparently 8 months(ish) is the time the passive immunity starts to wear off (it's why they don't give MMR before 13 months and why it's more effective after 15- maternal antibodies get in the way and interfere so immunity tends to fail) but there should still be quite a bit circulating to help.....

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 23/02/2008 18:16

Bfing him will be so beneficial for the little man.

belgo · 24/02/2008 08:34

how is he FA?

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 24/02/2008 08:44

Hi Belgo, much improved thankyou

He slept from 7pm till midnight, got up for a cry and was hard to settle but went down again about 1.30am. Slept till 5!

He seems happier and not batting his head any more...very spotty, it is more measle than background iyswim! But not botherig him. I guess the ab's are kicking in.

Very relieved mummy here! Thanks for asking, you're lovely. Just got to get them in the car and off to seaside, for a little walk I think...but not sure actually if he should go out at all. Might be a bit chilly.

Mum is bringing us chocolate later

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belgo · 24/02/2008 08:54

glad he's picking up.

Phoenix · 24/02/2008 08:57

Glad he's feeling better FA and you are too

When is measles contagious does anyone know? I'm bored of been stuck in the house.

Original poster
Flllightattendant · 24/02/2008 09:01

How is DS, Phoenix? Has he still got the rash?
I read in several places that they are contagious for four days before the rash starts, and four days afterwards ( not sure if that is four days after it appears or disappears?)

Also an infected person is very contagious, the droplets can stay active in a room 2 hours after they have left!

I think we might have picked it up at the Drs 2 weeks ago. I never take my kids there unless unavoidable anymore, they insist really ill people come in to the surgery, it is just asking for trouble to hang around in there imo!

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Original poster
Flllightattendant · 24/02/2008 09:02

Btw were you advised to stay in? I don't know the guidelines. I might ring them and ask, actually. Will let you know what they say.

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