What happens if you get measles? Symptoms of the virus in children and adults

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fifty-eight measles cases were reported across nineteen states and the District of Colombia in the United States. This year, the same number of cases have already been reported, and we are only three months into the year.

Public health officials are concerned about the growing number of cases, as this dangerous disease could begin to threaten unvaccinated individuals, including those who are allergic to vaccine ingredients, infants and children too young to get vaccinated, and those who have decided to go without protection. This last group has grown in recent years, and public health officials tracked a paralleled increase in measles cases, which threatens the work done to eliminate the threat of the virus. However, the CDC reported that 93 percent “were linked to international travel” and has issued advice to those who may be planning a trip abroad where the virus is spreading.

The dangers of contracting measles

Infants are not able to receive measles vaccines until they are one year old. The second dose is not given until a child is between the ages of four and six. This means that young children are not fully protected from the virus, and a growing unvaccinated population represents a serious threat to this age group.

The CDC does not parse words about the dangers of contracting measles. A fifth of people who contract the disease are hospitalized, and the risks of lasting brain damage and even death are a real threat caused by the virus. The most common symptoms include high fever that could reach as high as 104° F, runny nose, cough, and a rash that presents anywhere between 3 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms.

The threat presented by measles is bolstered by the fact that the virus is extremely contagious, with the CDC reporting “that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.” One doesn’t need to come into contact with an infected person to contract the disease since the virus can stick around in a room for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Additionally, a person who has contracted the virus can begin spreading the disease days before their symptoms present.