Caring for your child sometimes requires the assistance of a doctor to
administer medical treatment – including medication,
screenings, or vaccinations.
Measles is a contagious viral disease
caused by the rubeola virus.
This disease occurs mostly in children and
is characterized by flu-like symptoms and
a total-body skin rash.
Symptoms include:
Fever
Cough
Runny nose
Sore, red, swollen eyes
A spreading rash
Small, white spots in the mouth
When someone who has the virus sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets containing the virus spray into the air.
The virus can stay active for two hours in the air, or on a surface.
The most effective form of prevention
when it comes to measles is through
vaccination. The measles vaccine is part
of themeasles-mumps-rubella
immunization (MMR) given to children
12-15 months of age, and then again at 4-
6 years of age.
Generally, newborn babies are immune to the
virus up to six months, since antibodies from the
mother are passed in the uterus during
pregnancy.
If there is an outbreak of measles, the vaccine
may be given when a child is 6-11 months old,
followed by the usual MMR immunization at 12-
15 months and 4-6 years.
Measles is preventable through routine
childhood immunization. Dr. Selsky and
Family First Pediatrics offer a wide variety
of vaccinations including MMR
immunization.