An hour before MMR and I still don't know if...

[solo]

...I'm doing the right thing. I feel very anxious about it - as I did 9 years ago with Ds and he's being assessed for Asbergers. What do I do? Dd is 18 and a half months now, so time is not on my side. I'm very worried about it...^^

Thanks Beeper. Will discuss this with Dp

mumps is that bad - ex bil had it at 14 and went deaf

Hi solo
Our GP also said DS's rash was not measles, didn't look anything like it, he said. Then I caught the measles off DS. GP said it wasn't measles, that it couldn't be because DS never had it. But I had to go to hospital with it next day, and they confirmed it was measles (by this time it was meningitis caused by measles).

My Dad is GP and said firstly that younger GPs don't see much measles and therefore aren't as confident at diagnosing it from atypical symptoms (eg if your DD had paler rash they wouldn't have seen enough different cases to have seen measles that presented that way) and secondly he couldn't help wondering if GP was thinking 'if I say it's measles they won't go for MMR and that will bring the numbers down in my practice' (I believe GPs get financial incentive for high MMR rates in their practice). My DS wasn't very ill with measles at all (10 mths), just the rash and a fever which spiked high occasionally for 3 days.

All I'm saying is that just because your GP says it wasn't measles, doesn't mean it wasn't, from our experience!

There have been many tales on MN of children with measles whose GP's have denied the presence of measles once they discover the child has had the MMR. So they say it might be measles, then change their mind as they do not want the general public to think that you can still get the illness if you have had the vaccination.

Can well believe that LLPJ - the GP was adamant that I couldn't have it because I'd had MMR (30 years previously), and because DS didn't have it so I couldn't have caught it off him and because the earth is flat and etc etc. Despite all obvious signs to the contrary!

It's crazy isn't it? I mean, we all know that all vaccinations are not 100% effective, of course there is a chance of still getting it. i would have thought the sensible thing for GP's to be doing would be to be honest and try and improve our confidence in vaccinations instead of lying and making it look as if they are involved in some sort of cover up. Instead they treat you like you are an idiot and pretend that it's something it's not.

Thing is, it could be dangerous, imagine if your child developed complications and you missed it because you had been told by someone "in the know" that it wasn't measles!

Beeper, what do you mean by 'spiking temperatures', exactly?

Thanks

Beeper means a temp that goes up and down. They often spike (go high) in the evening. The spike is the dangerous bit in that this is when convulsions etc can occur.

DS1 caught rubella from a vaccinated child.

I took ds1 to the our of hours doctor with suspected measles and he said it couldn't possibly be measles because he'd been vaccinated. It came up in the right order for measles. He said it was to mild but a) measles can be mild and b) if a child's been vaccinated it's quite possibly going to be mild anyway.

Beeper - I have a question about the vitamins C and A that you mention. My ds2 is due to have MMR next month and despite some reservations he probably will unless poorly -he has no history of allergic reactions / immunity problems etc. But if I can do anything to boost his immune system I will. Vitamin C makes sense, I will def. give him that, but why also Vit A? Is there anything else I can do?

Keevamum - I'm tempted to wait till he is a bit older too, 13 months seems very little to be given something so strong. Is there ant evidence that waiting till they are about 2 reduces side effects?

Thanks

Vitamin A is the best treatment for measles. Its why it's so dangerous in malnourished children- you need vitamin A to fight measles.

In developing countries giving iv vitamin A has been shown to reduce complications and recovery time. So the idea is that by supplementing you'll have enough vitamin A around.

Thanks jimjam, I understand now

What is the best way to administer Vit A to a child, say 3 years old?

cod liver oil. But you don't want to overdose as its toxic in high doses. Most multivits provide it in the form of carotenes (which get converted to vit A) but for measles you want the retinol (vit A) form found in liver.

Best to get a decent brand though. Nordic naturals are good. You need fish liver oils to be purified really.

I

whoops!

another question - is cod liver oil ok for a 13 month old?

Hmm, that is pretty young. It's safe providing you don't give too much, but I have no idea what the correct dose would be for a 13 month old. Perhaps contact someone like nordic naturals and ask?

Thanks

Thanks for doing all the questions JimJams. Im having a severe post natal day.

I have recently bought this book

this book

and found it very helpful.

Also I highly reccomend Dr Mehndelsons 'how to raise a healthy child in spite of your doctor'

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-376203/Former-science-chief-MMR-fears-coming-true.html#com ments

I found this. It's a report which is two years old, but it's very interesting. I hope you can see it. I really wish I could do links!!!