Key points
- Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.
- About 1 out of 5 people who get measles will be hospitalized.
- The best protection for your child against measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
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Measles it isn't just a little rash
Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.
Measles symptoms typically include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red and/or watery eyes
- Rash (breaks out 3-5 days after symptoms begin)
Measles can be serious.
Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, swelling of the brain (encephalitis), and death.
- 1 out of 5 people who get measles will be hospitalized.
- 1 out of every 20 children with measles will get pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
- 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which may lead to brain damage.
- 1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
SSPE is a very rare, but deadly disease of the central nervous system. It can develop 7 to 10 years after a person has recovered from measles.
You have the power to protect your child.
Provide your children with safe and long-lasting protection against measles by making sure they get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider.
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