Don't Let Measles, Mups and Rubella into your child's world

This article explains about measles, mumps and rubella and the MMR vaccination which helps protect against all three diseases.

What is measles?

Measles is a very infectious viral illness that is spread by coughs and sneezes. If you are not protected and have even passing contact with someone who has measles, the chances are that you will be infected too. If you catch measles you will probably feel very poorly and be off school or work for around 10 days. There is no treatment or cure for measles. 

Symptoms of measles include fever, sore red eyes, and rash. It can be a very serious infection for some people.

Complications are more likely to occur in certain groups including people with weakened immune systems, babies under one year old and pregnant women. Complications can include chest and ear infections, fits, diarrhoea, encephalitis (infection of the brain) and brain damage. Those who develop complications may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

Is it serious? Yes, around one in 5000 individuals with measles is likely to die and since 2006, there have been 3 deaths from measles in England and Wales.

What is mumps?

Mumps is a viral illness that is spread by coughs and sneezes or close contact with someone who already has the infection.

Symptoms of mumps usually last around two weeks and can include headache and fever but the most common symptom is swelling of the glands at the side of the face. This can give you the appearance of having a ‘hamster face’ and can cause pain and difficulty swallowing.

Complications of mumps can be very painful and can include inflammation of the ovaries or testicles, and in rarer cases, the pancreas. Mumps can also cause viral meningitis and encephalitis (infection of the brain). Although permanent hearing loss after mumps is rare, around one in 20 people infected may have temporary hearing loss.

There is currently no medication to cure mumps so treatment is focused on relieving symptoms. If you develop mumps you will probably need some bed rest and painkillers during this time. You may also need to eat soft foods that do not require a lot of chewing. Most cases of mumps now occur in young adults who haven’t had two doses of MMR vaccine.

What is rubella?

Rubella is a viral illness, often called German measles, that is now rare in the UK thanks to the success of the MMR vaccine. It is spread in a similar way to mumps and measles. For most people, it is usually a mild condition that gets better in 7 to 10 days without treatment. However, if pregnant women develop rubella it can be very serious for their unborn baby.

Symptoms of rubella include a rash, cold-like symptoms, and aching joints.

Complications of rubella are rare but if a pregnant woman catches rubella during pregnancy, there can be devastating consequences for her unborn baby which could lead to the baby being born with cataracts (eye problems), deafness, heart problems or brain damage.

Find information on the MMR Vaccination and why it is important

Published: Jul 12, 2023