All children are vaccinated against measles (MMR
vaccine) as part of the immunisation program in the UK.
Measles is an extremely infectious illness and is
characterised with a rash, fever,cough and sore, watery
eyes. Your child may show these symptoms about one or two
weeks after infection. Your child is not infectious after
the fourth day after the rash develops. However, you must
inform parents of any children your child has been in
contact with recently as measles is highly infectious.
There are no medicines to treat measles but you can take
measures to help your child as he will feel quite
uncomfortable with the illness:
- Try to make your child as comfortable as you can.
They tend to cling to you more when they're feeling
unwell
- Encourage them to take as many fluids as they
can
- High temperature can be brought down with paracetamol
or tepid sponging
- Wipe your child's eyes with moist cotton wool if they
are feeling sore
Any child suffering from measles is at risk of
developing complications like earache or chest infection.
In severe cases, measles can cause fits and brain damage
and can even kill. You must see your GP again if your child
does not feel better after about three days after the rash
develops.
