Diagnosis, treatment and prevention

Prevention

Being vaccinated with the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is a safe and highly effective combined vaccine and protects against three infectious illnesses:

Measles
Mumps
Rubella (German measles)

All children should be vaccinated against measles. They should receive two doses of the vaccine to ensure they are immune. The first dose is usually given between 9 and 12 months of age. A second dose should be given later in childhood, usually at 15–18 months.

The full course of two MMR vaccines offers good protection against measles for 99 per cent of people. Immunity is lifelong in most people. Breakthrough infections are very rare and generally milder than in unvaccinated people.

Most MMR vaccine side effects are mild.
The injection site can be red, sore and swollen for a few days. Babies and young children may develop a high temperature for up to 72 hours. If the MMR vaccine is not suitable for any reason, someone at immediate risk of catching measles can have a treatment called human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) - a blood product containing measles antibodies. In addition, avoiding close contact with someone who is infected, regular hand-washing and covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing all help to prevent the spread of measles.

Interesting fact

Measles vaccination averted 56 million deaths between 2000 and 2021, according to the World Health Organisation.

Diagnosis

To diagnose whether you have measles, your doctor will first look closely at your rash. They’ll also look for the small white spots inside your mouth. Sometimes, to confirm measles, your doctor can also do a blood or saliva test.

Treatment

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, but there are things you can do to relieve your symptoms and prevent complications. The best way to speed up recovery is to drink plenty of fluids to hydrate yourself after fever and sweats, and get lots of rest. Eating a healthy diet is also important.

If your measles causes a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection or pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help treat it. All children or adults with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplements, given 24 hours apart. This restores low vitamin A levels that occur even in well-nourished children. It can help prevent eye damage and blindness. According to WHO review, vitamin A supplementation reduced all-cause mortality and the incidence of diarrhoea and measles in children aged six months to five years.

At home, you can help ease your measles symptoms with:

fever-reducing medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age unless specifically recommended by a doctor.
a humidifier for easier breathing.
dim lights or sunglasses to relieve eye pain caused by bright lights.