Noticeboard

URGENT - PLEASE READ - MEASLES ADVICE....

 

Following the recent outbreaks in the UK of measles , please see the leaflet below for information and advice.

 

http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_124026.pdf

 

Prevention

The most effective way of preventing measles is the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine . The first MMR vaccination should be given when your child is around 13 months old and a booster is given before your child starts school.

If your child is younger than 13 months and you think they may have been exposed to the measles virus, contact your GP immediately. The MMR may be given if they are over six months old, or they may be given antibodies for immediate protection if they are younger than nine months old.

It is very important not to go to your GP practice with a child who has measles.  If you do you risk passing on the infection to others in the waiting room.  If your child has symptoms of the disease please telephone your GP surgery in the first instance.

 

Measles is very infectious.  Someone with measles should not go to school or socialise until 5 days after the onset of the rash.  They should particularly avoid contact with babies, pregnant women and people who are immunosuppressed either as a result of illness or treatment.

 

Symptoms of measles to look out for:

 

The initial symptoms of measles appear around 10 days after contact with a case The measles rash usually appears a few days afterwards. The illness lasts for up to 10 days.

 

The initial symptoms of measles include:

  • cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, watery eyes, swollen eyelids and sneezing
  • red eyes and sensitivity to light
  • a mild to severe temperature, which may peak at over 40.6C (105F) for several days, then falls but goes up again when the rash appears
  • tiny greyish-white spots (called Koplik's spots) in the mouth and throat
  • tiredness, irritability and general lack of energy
  • aches and pains
  • poor appetite
  • dry cough
  • red-brown spotty rash (see below)

 

The measles rash appears two to four days after initial symptoms and lasts for up to eight days. The spots usually start behind the ears, spread around the head and neck, then spread to the legs and the rest of the body.

 

The spots are initially small but quickly get bigger and often join together. Similar-looking rashes may be mistaken for other infections, but measles has a range of other symptoms too, not just a rash.

 

Look at the NHS Choices  childhood conditions slideshow to see what the measles rash looks like.

 

Most childhood rashes are not measles, but contact your GP if:

  • You suspect it is measles.
  • Your symptoms worsen.
  • Your temperature increases to above 38C (100.4F).
  • Your temperature stays high after other symptoms have gone.
  • There are signs of other related illnesses or complications of measles. Measles usually gets better by itself, but sometimes it can cause middle ear infections, or chest infections and although Measles causes a cough, this is not usually persistent, or productive, but in some cases, the cough will be more persistent and phlegm will be produced. For both of these complications, antibiotics will be required.
  • In rare cases, the most serious complications are caused when the Measles virus infects the brain and causes encephalitis, this causes severe drowsiness and confusion and requires hospital treatment.

Treating measles

There's no specific treatment for measles and your immune system should fight off infection within a couple of weeks.

If your child has measles, there are several things you can do to help make them feel more comfortable, including:

 

  • closing the curtains to help reduce light sensitivity
  • using damp cotton wool to clean the eyes
  • taking  paracetamol or  ibuprofen to relieve fever, aches and pains
  • drinking plenty of water to avoid  dehydration
  • In severe cases of measles, especially if there are complications, hospital treatment will be needed.

 

Although vaccinated children are unlikely to catch it, keep your child away from other children for at least five days after the rash has appeared. Once you have fought off the measles infection, you develop immunity (resistance) to it, but it is still important to be immunised.

 

Travel Vaccinationsglobal air travel

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe Europe & Russia North America North America
Central America Central America South America South America
Caribbean Caribbean Africa Africa
Middle East Middle East Central Asia Central Asia
East Asia East Asia Australasia Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.


Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

clock2 Travel Questionnaire


Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe a very useful booklet has been published with advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday. To visit please click:- http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/86/en.pdf (this is a large document and may take a minute or two to view)


 
Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergencyNHS ChoicesThis site is brought to you by My Surgery Website