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The Measles Vaccine
The measles vaccine is given to babies at nine(9) months and repeated at 18 months. It is combined with the rubella vaccine in one vaccine. The measles and rubella combination (MR) vaccine is injected into the left upper arm.
Side-effects of the Measles Vaccine
The common side effects of the MR vaccine are swelling and pain at the injection site and a high body temperature. Some children may develop the measles rash for a few days. The rash will disappear after three days. Pain medication such as paracetamol is recommended for about 24 hours.
The measles vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine and it can cause disease, especially in children with weak immunity. Your child's doctor will inform you if your child has a medical condition that causes weak immunity.
Measles
Childhood measles, also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children. It is caused by the measles virus and spreads through droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person. The virus can survive for up to two hours in the air or on surfaces, making it easy to contract the disease.
Symptoms of Measles Disease
The symptoms of childhood measles usually begin with a high fever, followed by a cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Small white spots may also appear in the mouth, and a rash usually develops three to five days after the fever begins. The rash starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body, lasting for about a week.
Complications of Measles in Children
While childhood measles is typically a self-limiting disease, it can cause serious complications. The severity of measles can vary depending on several factors, including the age and health of the child, as well as the strain of the virus. In some cases, measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and even death. Measles has been a major cause of visual and hearing impairments in Ghana. The risk of complications is higher in children under five years of age, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
The vaccine has a 97% success rate in preventing measles.
Concerns about Measles Vaccine
Despite the availability of the vaccine, childhood measles remains a significant public health concern in some parts of the world such as Ghana. In developing countries, where access to healthcare and vaccination is limited, measles outbreaks can occur and cause serious illness and death. In recent years, there have also been outbreaks of measles in developed countries, as some parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children due to misinformation about vaccine safety.
Childhood measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause serious complications. However, it can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. It is essential to ensure that all children receive the measles vaccine to protect themselves and those around them from this preventable disease. Parents and caregivers must work together with healthcare providers to ensure that their children receive timely vaccination to avoid preventable outbreaks. It is important that children who migrate from other countries to Ghana are fully vaccinated against measles.
Children who are fully immunized can get infected with some form of measles called atypical measles. The symptoms include a high fever and a generalised rash which clears on its own after a few days. The children are otherwise well and the temperature subsides on paracetamol.
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