[dalereed]

What's the big deal about measles?

I don’t know anyone that didn't have german measles.

The only thing I didn't like was the 2 weeks quarantine!

[goodnesswins]

Yes...that’s what I thought. .merman measles were a rite of passage...we survived

[Kozak]

Yeah, what big deal. What's a little blindness, encephalitis and death? "Complications from measles can occur in almost every organ system. Pneumonia, croup, and encephalitis are common causes of death; encephalitis is the most common cause of long-term sequelae. Measles remains a common cause of blindness in developing countries. Complication rates are higher in those <5 and >20 years old, although croup and otitis media are more common in those <2 years old and encephalitis in older children and adults. Complication rates are increased by immune deficiency disorders, malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, intense exposures to measles, and lack of previous measles vaccination. Case-fatality rates have decreased with improvements in socioeconomic status in many countries but remain high in developing countries"

[Kozak]

Oh. Forgot. With German measles you also get dead and damaged infants. Remember when young girls were all exposed to make sure they didn't get it while pregnant. "Rubella virus usually causes a mild fever and rash in children and adults.* However, infection during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infants with congenital malformations, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)"

I am disgusted that people forget what death, disability and misery we we used to have from these completely preventable infectious diseases.

[exDemMom]

What's the big deal about measles?

I don’t know anyone that didn't have german measles.

Measles and German measles are two different diseases, both preventable by vaccination. Each of them cause serious complications. Measles can be fatal up to a decade after the disease. German measles is especially bad for unborn babies, since it causes fetal death or severe fetal abnormalities.

I never had either disease. When I was in Navy boot camp in 1980, I was tested for immunity to German measles. I was not immune, so I got a vaccine. A few years later, I wanted to go to college, and was required to get measles vaccine before I could attend classes.

Back when I was a kid, I got infected with some exotic disease that caused me to have such a high fever I hallucinated. The doctors never figured out what it was, but for two weeks, I couldn't eat and I had the weirdest visions. I'll take getting a tiny needle prick over that experience any day.