Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine: MMR

This article is also available in Italian.

Between 13 and 15 months of age the child is recommended the vaccination against these three diseases, which affect mostly children, in a single dose by injection under the skin of the upper arm near the shoulder. It also recommended a second dose between 5-6 years or between 11-12 years.

This is a vaccine that contains three live viruses, but modified to make them harmless, but can stimulate the immune system.

Any reactions to the vaccine may occur after ten days or two weeks after injection, possibly accompanied by a mild rash. If presented with fever higher than 38.5° is preferable to consult a pediatrician and administer anti-fever medications. It may also appear with swollen lymph glands or (less frequently) with cough and colds, conjunctivitis and swelling of the parotid, the largest salivary glands placed behind the neck.

Vaccination is contraindicated in the following cases:

1. clinically important disease of medium and high severity or fever higher than 38.5°

2. administration of immunoglobulins in last 3-6 months.

and vaccination should be withheld in such cases:

1. alterations of the immune system

2. pregnancy
3. severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of that vaccine

Consider these three diseases alone, and see how they are transmitted and what are the symptoms.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious disease, is transmitted through saliva droplets emitted by coughing, sneezing or talking. The sick person becomes contagious when the first symptoms appear, until several days after the onset of the exanthem.

The first symptoms of measles are:

1. conjunctivitis

2. cold
3. cough
4. malaise
5. fever

After a few days it appears the typical skin rash (exanthem) on the forehead first and then, within 2-3 days, even on the face, neck, arms and, gradually, to the trunk and legs (see photo).

Typically, the disease resolves in a week or so without problems.
The most frequent complications that may arise are ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Instead there is a more serious complication, encephalitis, which affects one in every thousand sick, and it leave permanent damage in half the cases. Also, after many years after recovery, may appear (1 case every 100,000) subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is a serious progressive degeneration of the nervous system.

Mumps

Although mumps is a contagious disease that is transmitted through saliva droplets emitted by coughing, sneezing or talking.

This is a virus that enters through the mouth and reaches the salivary glands and spreads through the blood to other organs. The glands most affected are precisely the parotid glands.

The first symptoms are:

1. malaise

2. headache
3. fatigue
4. fever
5. parotid swelling

Usually only one gland begins to swell, but after a few days (not in all cases), thickens the other.

After a week, if there are complications, fever and swollen glands disappear.

The most frequent complications are:

1. pancreatitis

2. meningitis
3. encephalitis
4. myocarditis
5. deafness
6. in the male who contracts the disease after puberty, orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), with subsequent risk of infertility.

Rubella

It too is spread like measles and mumps, but to all ages. Instead for congenital rubella
syndrome the virus that is present in the blood reaches the fetus through the placenta.

It is the mildest disease, among the common diseases of childhood. The virus enters the body through the respiratory tract and is then transported through the blood.

The most common symptoms are:

1. fever

2. rash with small pink spots
3. swollen glands behind the ears, under the neck and under the chin

The rash starts from the face, spreads rapidly to the trunk and extremities and usually disappears over the few days.

The swelling lasts a few weeks.

The fever is usually mild and lasts 1-2 days.

Although slight, sometimes it does not pass unnoticed, however, as we know, becomes dangerous to the fetus if the disease hit a pregnant woman.

The consequences of infection during pregnancy can be, for the unborn child:

1. malformations of the heart

2. malformations of the nervous system
3. eye malformations
4. Ear malformations
5. alterations of bone
6. abnormalities of blood coagulation
7. If the infection is very serious, intrauterine fetal death