Measles symptoms typically begin about 8 to 12 days after your child is exposed to the virus. If your child was exposed to someone with measles, call your pediatrician right away. They can check your child's health records. If needed, your pediatrician can arrange to have your child examined without putting others at risk.

Children with measles should stay home from school or child care until at least 4 full days after the beginning of the rash, when they are no longer contagious.

During a measles outbreak, keep in mind that children who have not received a measles vaccine (MMR or MMRV vaccine) should be excluded from school. Unimmunized children who have not had a known exposure to someone with measles can return to school or child care immediately after they receive a dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine.

Unimmunized children who have been exposed to someone with measles but receive a dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine within 72 hours of their first exposure can return to school immediately.

Unimmunized children who have been exposed to someone with measles but receive a dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine more than 72 hours after their first exposure should be excluded from school for 21 days from the time of their most recent exposure.

Unimmunized children who do not receive the MMR or MMRV vaccine during the outbreak, regardless of whether they have a known exposure, should be excluded for 21 days after the onset of rash in the last case of measles in the school or community.

Your pediatrician can let you know when it is safe for your child to return to school or child care. This will help avoid spreading measles to others who may be unable to receive the vaccine because of their age or due to a condition that affects their immune system.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable infection. About 95 of every 100 people will be protected after getting one dose of the MMR vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine protect 97-99 of every 100 people.

To avoid the disease, immunize according to the recommended schedule—when a child is 12 to 15 months of age and with a second dose at their checkup when they are 4 to 6 years of age. Some children at higher risk may need 3 doses if there is a disease outbreak.

Infants ages 6-12 months old can get a measles vaccine during an outbreak or before international travel to a location with an active measles outbreak. Before traveling, check for health advisories on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notices webpage.

Children who are vaccinated with MMR develop lasting immunity and protect others. When most of us have immunity to measles, it is less likely to spread. If you think that your child has been exposed to measles, call your pediatrician right away.

For more information, go to HealthyChildren.org.

____

Andrew Hashikawa, M.D., M.S., FAAP, is a clinical professor in the departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at Michigan Medicine and a practicing pediatric emergency medicine physician at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Early Childhood Executive Committee and is an early childhood champion and child care health consultant. His research focuses on infectious disease surveillance in child care programs.

Adam Ratner, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a pediatric infectious diseases expert at New York University Grossman School of Medicine and Hassenfeld Children's Hospital, New York. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases.

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.