A measles outbreak is happening in Texas, and more cases are likely to occur due to how quickly the disease spreads, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Dept.
As of Tuesday, 24 cases were identified in Gaines County, with nine patients hospitalized. All of the cases are unvaccinated and residents of Gaines County, DSHS reported on Feb. 11.
More than half of the cases were children ages 5 to 18 years of age.
Gains County is located in the southern High Plains of West Texas and bordered on the west by New Mexico. DSHS is working with South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak....
Info for nurses who have never seen this illness --- both my brother and I had measles in early 1960's after entering first grade prior to immunizations developed.
It may take between seven to 14 days for a child to develop measles symptoms after being exposed to the disease. It is important to know that a child is contagious four days before the onset of signs and symptoms and four days after the rash develops. Therefore, children may be contagious before they even know they have the disease.
During the early phase of the disease (which lasts between one and four days), symptoms usually resemble those of an upper respiratory infection, often making it difficult to diagnose in the early stages. The following are the common symptoms of measles. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Runny nose
Hacking cough
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Fever
Small spots with white centers (Koplik's spots) appear on the inside of the cheek (usually occur two or three days after symptoms begin)
Rash. Deep, red, blotchy, flat rash that starts on the face and spreads down to the trunk, arms, legs, and feet. The rash starts as small distinct lesions, which then combine as one big rash. After three to seven days, the rash will begin to clear leaving a brownish discoloration and peeling skin.
Severe diarrhea
The most serious complications from measles include the following:
Blindness
Croup
Ear infections
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Pneumonia
The symptoms of measles may resemble other skin conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis.
What to Do If Your Child Gets the Measles has info on natural remedies to help child.. I remember Mom giving us oatmeal baths helping the itch. and cooling fever along with weak tea to prevent dehydration --no pedialyte. Vitamin A recommended by WHO. Karen
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
Nearly 500 cases of measles now. Texas children hospitalized as overdosed with Vitamin A (fat soluable, stored in the body instead of being excreted) after HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy recommended it as measles treatment --only adjunct NOT treatment.
Vitamin A toxicity can cause drug interactions, fetal development issues and other side effects
Acute vitamin A toxicity symptoms
Quote
Acute vitamin A toxicity happens when somebody — usually a child — accidentally ingests a megadose of vitamin A. Common symptoms include:
Headache
Rash, which may cause the affected skin to peel later
Drowsiness
Irritability
Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting
In acute vitamin A toxicity cases, symptoms should resolve over time. Still, if an individual (especially a child) is experiencing these symptoms, you should call Poison Control, and, if directed, go to the nearest emergency room.
...Children may experience loss of appetite (anorexia), joint pain (arthralgia) and excessive bone growth (cortical hyperostosis). Vitamin A toxicity can also cause "failure to thrive,” which — while not a good thing — sounds scarier than it is. It basically means your child's growth has either slowed or stopped....
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
NRSKarenRN said:
Nearly 500 cases of measles now. Texas children hospitalized as overdosed with Vitamin A (fat soluable, stored in the body instead of being excreted) after HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy recommended it as measles treatment --only adjunct NOT treatment.
Small outbreak in CA. Any thoughts on why the public has not been told that the people who were vaccinated from 1963-1967 may not have sufficient immunity.
Sorry I didn't see the above posts. (About those who had rcd vaccines before 1968). I still feel that this population was fairly easy to define and would have come it to get vaccinated if they had known. My husband who teaches was directly exposed was born in those years. If he had known he would have been revaccinated. It will be 3 days before he is considered out of the woods.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
My 90 YO aunt called, asking if she needed immunization since a case in NJ in her area. Told her unlikely as her sister, my Mom said they had measles when young when discussing my kids immunizations years ago.
I saw on the news yesterday that there is a recommendation by the CDC that persons who were born between 1957 through 1968 be revaccinated due to "most born before this either had measles or were exposed and had natural immunity, those born after got a better vaccine. These born in those years got a vaccine that was proven not as effective" (I believe that was what was the rationale given)
Born in 1960, I wondered about this, and got a titre drawn. Guess who needed a booster? Me!
As a high school nurse, with ever increasing numbers of under vaccinated students, I felt it was my personal as well as my ethical responsibility to be sure that was properly vaccinated.
I also found out that after an mmr injection, you cannot donate blood for 4 weeks- it's the rubella portion of the injection that causes the 4 week wait. The German measles and mumps portion only require a 2 week waiting period. So check before you go to donate blood if you've had any vaccinations- it may require a waiting period after you've had it.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Mommavik said:
I also found out that after an mmr injection, you cannot donate blood for 4 weeks- it's the rubella portion of the injection that causes the 4 week wait. The German measles and mumps portion only require a 2 week waiting period. So check before you go to donate blood if you've had any vaccinations- it may require a waiting period after you've had it.
NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN
10 Articles; 19,190 Posts
Nearly 500 cases of measles now. Texas children hospitalized as overdosed with Vitamin A (fat soluable, stored in the body instead of being excreted) after HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy recommended it as measles treatment --only adjunct NOT treatment.
ABC News
Nearly 500 cases of measles reported across 19 states: CDC
Vitamin A Toxicity: How Much Vitamin A Is Too Much?
Vitamin A toxicity can cause drug interactions, fetal development issues and other side effects
Acute vitamin A toxicity symptoms