On March 5th, 2019 the first case of measles was diagnosed in San Antonio in recent years. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is urging everyone to be vaccinated against measles, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states the vaccine is 97% effective. People need 2 doses of the MMR vaccine to be fully protected.
While measles has not been completed eradicated from the world, most cases are now from children who were infected when traveling, not completely vaccinated or unvaccinated children.
Measles is a highly contagious virus. Simply being in the same room as someone else who has it can infect you. It can live for up to two hours in a room after the infected person has left.
For most people, the treatment for measles is supportive. Plenty of rest, fluids, a humidifier, and acetaminophen/tylenol. Children are at high risk for complications from the measles including respiratory or neurologic issues. Children infected with the measles should be monitored closely.
You should always call your doctor if you think your child has the measles. They will examine and diagnose your child and report it to the local health department. This will help prevent the spread of measles in the community.
| Signs and Symptoms of Measles | |
| Exposure | Incubation period begins, may not have any symptoms |
| 7-14 days after exposure symptoms will begin | High fever, cough, red eyes, diarrhea, ear infection |
| 2-3 days after symptoms begin | Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth |
| 3-5 days after symptoms begin | Rash breaks out across body. Fever will spike |
| 5-6 days after rash breaks out | Rash should begin to fade, symptoms go down |
Measles is an illness that can last for several weeks. During this time, anyone infected should not go into public spaces and be kept away from children. Typically, a person is contagious for four days before the rash breaks out to four days after.
Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care can test your child for measles by sending out a blood test, although a blood test is not necessary to diagnose measles. Little Spurs has 10 locations in San Antonio and two in Houston and sees children from the ages of 0-21 years old on a walk-in basis. Little Spurs is accredited by the Urgent Care Association.
