Pediatric Measles Treatment Specialist in Scottsdale, and Glendale AZ

Measles has been limited in its spread throughout the US due to the high vaccination rate in children against the infection. Measles is caused by a virus, which children have been getting vaccinated against for decades, with successful results in limiting the spread and cutting down on the cases of serious cases. When children do get measles, typically as a result of being unvaccinated and having contracted it from outside of the country, the consequences can be serious and sometimes fatal.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that is easily spread through airborne droplets, released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. When it is spread, measles can cause serious complications and illness in children, particularly if they are under the age of 5. In severe cases, measles can also be fatal in children, who are at a higher risk for contracting the virus if they haven’t been vaccinated against it. Symptoms of measles include dry cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, conjunctivitis, Koplik’s spots on the inner cheek lining, and a skin rash.

There are many complications that can develop as a result of measles infection in children. The most common complication that has been found with measles infections is a bacterial ear infection. Additional complications include croup, laryngitis, or bronchitis as a result of an inflammation of the voice box or the inner walls of the bronchial tubes, pneumonia, encephalitis, and can cause complications in women who are pregnant.

Measles can be especially dangerous for people with compromised immune systems as measles can develop into a form of pneumonia that is very dangerous and sometimes fatal. While there isn’t a specific treatment available to treat a measles infection, people who have been exposed can take some additional measures to help reduce the severity of the disease and try to reduce the risk of complications.

The duration of symptoms in someone with measles will vary from one person to the next, depending on how severe their infection is and if they have any existing health conditions that can increase their risk of complications. In most cases, symptoms of measles don’t appear in an infected person until 10 to 14 days following their exposure to the virus. Once symptoms start to appear, they will typically follow a series of stages that span over a two-to-three-week time period.

Each stage of the illness can present different symptoms, starting with mild symptoms that could be mistaken for a cold or flu. The initial stage of symptoms typically lasts for a couple of days and includes sore throat, runny nose, persistent cough, and a mild to moderate fever. Following this stage, the fever will spike quickly, and a rash of small red spots will start to appear. The rash starts on the face and then spreads down to cover the arms and torso, before continuing to spread down to the thighs, legs, and feet. Once the virus has run its course, the rash will start to fade in the same order that it appears.

If your child has been exposed to measles, or you suspect that your child is showing symptoms of the infection, it is best to give the pediatrician or your family doctor a call. Dr. Maria Nabong can also review your child’s immunization records to see if they are up to date on their measles vaccine. If your child is unvaccinated and has been exposed, but is not showing any symptoms, there may be an opportunity to have your child vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure to limit the severity of the infection. At KidsHealth Pediatrics, we offer medical attention and treatment to children for a wide range of health concerns, including vaccinations and treatment for illnesses such as measles. For more information, call us or schedule an appointment. We have clinics located in Glendale and Scottsdale, Arizona, to serve you well! We serve patients from Glendale AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Tempe AZ, Mesa AZ, Paradise Valley AZ, and Phoenix AZ.