the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department and the CDC remind you that Measles is more than just a little rash. Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.
Measles symptoms typically include:
• High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Rash breaks out 3-5 days after symptoms begin
Measles Can Be Serious
About 1 out of 4 people who get measles will be hospitalized. 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling due to infection (encephalitis), which may lead to brain damage. 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.
You have the power to protect your child. Provide your children with safe and long-lasting protection against measles by making sure they get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine according to CDC’s recommended immunization schedule.
If you suspect you have measles – contact your doctor accommodations can be made to avoid infecting others.
When I was a Social worker I met a beautiful child who was brilliant in math. That was the only skill left to her after a bout with measles. She had been a brilliant child and then measles damaged much of her brain. Measles left a second child deaf. It’s not just a “childhood disease” but can do real and permanent damage.