Ask the Doctor: ‘What are the symptoms of measles, and what can I do to stop them spreading apart from vaccination?’

“With so much talk about measles, it can be confusing to know what advice to listen to. I was born in the 80s and moved schools a couple of times. I have no record of my vaccine history so am unsure if I was fully vaccinated. What should I do in this instance? What are the main symptoms of measles and besides vaccination, is there anything we can do to stop them spreading?”

Answer from Lenora Leonard, Head of Infection Prevention Control, Beacon Hospital

Measles is a highly transmissible infection which is infectious from four days before the rash until four days after the onset of the rash. The usual incubation period is 10 days but it can range from five to 21 days. Airborne transmission via coughing and sneezing in enclosed areas for up to two hours after a person with measles has left the room enables transmission. As the contact time is approximately 15 minutes, there is a high risk of picking up measles, if you are not immune.

Know the signs or symptoms of measles to help early identification and protective measures to put in place.

Measles is often preceded by prodromal symptoms as follows:

• Irritability
• A runny nose
• Conjunctivitis
• A hacking cough
• A fever that comes and goes for about four days
• Small grey-white spots in your mouth (not always)
• A rash which typically starts on the forehead and spreads downwards over the face, neck and whole body. It consists of flat red or brown blotches, which can flow into each other. The rash fades after about a week.

If you think you have measles, stay at home to reduce the spread of the virus. Ensure only family members or carers who are immune to measles visit or attend to you. Immune people include people who were born in Ireland before 1978, people who are age-appropriately vaccinated with the MMR vaccine or have had a definite history of measles. Do not allow people who are immunocompromised or pregnant to visit during your infectious period.

Cover your mouth when coughing with a tissue. Wash your hands frequently and clean surfaces with a disinfectant wipe.

To ease your symptoms, take paracetamol or ibuprofen for the fever and aches (as per manufacturer instructions), and drink plenty of fluids.

If you require medical attention, telephone your GP or hospital in advance and wear a mask attending the medical facility. Clinically suspected and confirmed cases will be notified to the Medical Officer of Health, in the Department of Public Health.

To prevent measles in the first instance, make sure you and your family are vaccinated. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is part of the childhood vaccination schedule in Ireland. Babies and children get their first dose from a GP when they are 12 months old and the second dose at school when the child is about four or five years old. You can contact your GP or local health office to request your vaccine records.

There is also an MMR vaccination service for people who did not get the MMR vaccine. See MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine – HSE.ie for further information. If you cannot find your vaccination records, there is no harm in having the MMR vaccine again.

Stay safe and get vaccinated.

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