Top Tips: Measles

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Please note our top tips, related to the clinical management of health conditions, are designed to be introductory, aimed at clinicians, and not standalone guidance. Always refer to peer-reviewed clinical guidance including published Nice guidelines.

 

 

Top Tips: Measles

 

Contributor:

Dr Liz Whittaker

Senior Clinical Lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology and Convenor of the British Paediatric Allergy Infection and Immunity Group (BPAIIG)

1. Is it measles?

Consider measles in children with a fever and a rash IF they are unvaccinated and have an epidemiological link (eg known contact, travel to high risk area)

2. Act quickly

Rapid recognition of possible measles and isolation from vulnerable contacts while wearing protective equipment can break the chain of transmission and limit the outbreak

3. Protect the vulnerable

Vulnerable exposed people such as those who are pregnant, under one year or immunocompromised should be highlighted to the health protection team

Find your local health protection team

4. The MMR vaccine is safe

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are safe and effective, and there is access to porcine free versions

5. Measles is serious

One in seven people infected with measles will develop a complication including pneumonia and encephalitis which can be serious

Complications [www.cdc.gov]

Share our poster with families

Uptake of the MMR vaccine – which protects against measles, mumps and rubella - is well below the 95% target set by the World Health Organization (WHO). To help stop this disease from spreading, display our poster in your clinic.

Download poster from the RCPCH website
 

Deepen your understanding

To further your knowledge we highly recommend exploring our related learning resources on measles and vaccinations

  • podcasts

    The Paeds Round from RCPCH and Medisense

    NEW EPISODE AVAILABLE NOW Listen to real-world advice and guidance on how to manage a range of clinical topics and much else on education, training and working in paediatrics. With Dr Emma Lim, Consultant Paediatrician and Dr Christo Tsilifis, Academic Paediatric Trainee, plus parents, paediatric specialists and junior doctors.

    Read more
  • webinars

    Infectious diseases

    RCPCH Webinar: Measles – an update

    In this topical webinar, Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, Professor Shamez Ladhani and Nalini Iyanger will provide an essential update on measles in children, ahead of an outbreak.

    Read more
  • sfwd-courses

    Infectious diseases

    Vaccines in Practice

    Welcome to the RCPCH Vaccines In Practice eLearning course. This course has been designed to primarily facilitate the development of skills in communicating the benefits of vaccination.

    Immunology Vaccines

About the contributer:

Dr Liz Whittaker

Dr Liz Whittaker is Senior Clinical Lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology. She divides her time between Imperial College London and the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, St. Marys Hospital, London where she is a Consultant. Dr Whittaker is the Convenor of the British Paediatric Allergy Infection and Immunity Group (BPAIIG)

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