How to Spot Measles Symptoms in Adults as Outbreaks Spread in the US

The most severe complications from measles, however, are of the neurological variety, occurring when the virus enters your brain. Though it’s rare (happening in an estimated 1 in 1000 cases), the virus can cause encephalitis, or brain inflammation, resulting in fevers, headaches, and neck stiffness along with cognitive issues like confusion, seizures, and memory loss—as well as coma and death, if left untreated. (In some cases, about a week after your symptoms start, you can also get a type of autoimmune encephalitis, which occurs when your immune system misfires in response to the virus, Dr. Gulick adds.) And if that wasn’t bad enough, in extremely rare circumstances, neurologic fallout from measles is delayed, showing up 7 to 10 years post-infection as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a degenerative disease that is ultimately fatal, Dr. Lovins says.

You’re at greater risk for any of these scenarios if you’re immunocompromised—for instance, you’re chronically ill or on steroid therapy, undergoing chemotherapy, or taking other meds that suppress your immune system—or you’re pregnant. In the latter case, your baby could be negatively affected too. Research shows measles during pregnancy is linked with a higher risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and even spontaneous abortion, as well as maternal death.

All to say, it’s important to be proactive about prevention, and if you do catch measles, you’ll want to be vigilant. If it feels like you’re getting better, but your symptoms don’t completely resolve or new ones crop up, be sure to see your doctor STAT, Dr. Lovins says.

How can I avoid getting measles?

As Dr. Gulick puts it, answers one, two, and three to this question are being fully vaccinated against the virus. That means having had both the recommended shots of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. While one shot is 93% effective at warding off the virus, two offer up to 97% protection. And even if you’re one of the 3 in 100 people who may still get infected while immunized, you’ll have a milder case that puts you less at risk of complications than you would if you didn’t get vaccinated.

If you are not fully vaccinated or are unsure of your status, your doctor may recommend a measles booster. Ultimately, there’s no harm in getting another dose of the vaccine even if you’re already protected—and it’s better to be safe than sorry if you’re traveling to an area with an outbreak or a country where measles is endemic. In that case, aim to get the vaccine at least two weeks pre-trip, Dr. Lovins says, to ensure your body has time to respond and develop immunity beforehand.

The only exception here is for certain heavily immunocompromised folks, who may not be eligible to get the MMR shot because it contains live parts of the virus (which can cause infection in those people), Dr. Gulick says. As he points out, that’s all the more reason for everyone else to do their part in getting vaccinated: When we achieve the 95% vaccination rate necessary for herd immunity, we can keep the spread of measles at bay—and prevent it from reaching those people who don’t share the same privilege of vaccination.

https://www.self.com/story/measles-symptoms-adults, GO TO SAUBIO DIGITAL FOR MORE ANSWERS AND INFORMATION ON ANY TOPIC

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Take a look at our comprehensive guide to the best and most popular information ebooks and products available today on Detoxing, Colon Cleansing, Weight Loss and Dating and Romance. They are all in one spot, easy to find and compere to make a quick selection for the product that best fits your needs or wants.

Weight Loss Ebook Reviews