2023-07-20 12:41:28
Measles: A Contagious Disease Still Looming Despite Low Incidence in the Netherlands
By: National Care Guide / Johanne Levinsky
Measles symptoms
Although measles is almost non-existent in the Netherlands, it is still one of the most contagious diseases. The measles virus is transmissible from person to person and starts with fever, cough, nose cold, and eye infection. There are also white spots on the inside of the cheeks, symptoms that you may not immediately link to measles. The characteristic red spots do not appear until a few days later. A middle ear infection and diarrhea can also be associated with a measles infection, and in more serious cases, pneumonia or encephalitis can develop. This can happen even up to seven years after the infection. Inflammation of the brain or meninges can cause permanent damage.
Who can become seriously ill from measles?
Measles can have a fairly mild course, but it can also make someone seriously ill. Young children up to the age of 5, unvaccinated or previously infected adults, and people with a reduced immune system are particularly at risk. Less than 1 in 10,000 patients in the Netherlands dies as a result of measles. In developing countries, about 250 children die from this every day.
Danger of measles during pregnancy
Women who are pregnant can become more seriously ill with a measles infection than non-pregnant women. For example, they can get pneumonia. While measles does not cause birth defects, it can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Fortunately, this almost never happens.
Protection baby after birth
In the Netherlands, babies are protected against measles for several months after birth. The mother is then vaccinated against it or has ever had measles. Mothers who have not had a vaccination or have never been infected with measles should avoid patients with suspected measles. Newborn babies of these mothers have an increased risk of serious complications and even death because they have no protection against the disease. Babies of vaccinated mothers are protected for 3 to 4 months after birth and mothers who have ever been infected with measles are protected for up to 6 months.
Measles contagiousness
As mentioned, measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases and is transmitted through contaminated droplets of snot and saliva that a measles patient exhales, sneezes or coughs. Measles is more contagious than mumps, rubella, and the flu. As soon as the first symptoms start, like fever, cough, nose cold, and eye infection, someone is contagious. This also means that children with a measles infection sometimes still go to daycare because it is not clear that it is measles. Other children are often already infected before the first child developed the first visible symptoms.
MMR vaccination
Vaccinating children against measles can prevent outbreaks. The measles vaccine is in a combination vaccine together with the vaccine against mumps and rubella. Children who have had two injections have a very small chance of being infected. The MMR vaccination is offered at 14 months and 9 years.
Since the introduction of measles vaccination in 1976, measles has become less and less common. Before then, almost all children had measles at some point in their lives. At the moment, measles occurs about ten times a year, and outbreaks mainly occur among groups that are not vaccinated, for example, in the Bible Belt.
Disclaimer: The above article was written by National Care Guide’s Johanne Levinsky and provides valuable information about measles. Stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and others.
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