QUESTION: I have always thought that measles simply was another childhood disease, but my girlfriend says that it can be quite serious.
What do you think? Do you know anything about "atypical" measles? Where does it come from? I appreciate your answers very much.
ANSWER: Measles, also called rubeola, certainly can be considered a serious disease, at least in some cases.
One person in 3,000 who gets measles dies from it, and three more suffer acute encephalitis, a severe brain infection. Before measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, there were 500,000 cases a year in the United States.
Measles has made a rebound; there were 6,282 cases in 1986, more than double the number seen in 1985, a trend that seems to be continuing. Measles vaccinations have reduced the overall number of cases, but because of incomplete immunization, some variations of measles have emerged. One such situation is known as "atypical measles syndrome" (AMS), which can be confused with other diseases that produce rashes.
Simply stated, it is a case of measles which may produce a disease where the typical signs and symptoms normally associated with this infection may be changed.
AMS occurs in people who received a measles immunization between 1963 and 1967 with a vaccine that was later found to be inadequate.
This led to a sensitization of the person, and causes an "atypical" disease when they are infected by the virus from a wild strain.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
