Measels Update - January 2024

Cases of measles are increasing in England currently. If your child has not been fully
vaccinated with the MMR vaccine it is a good time to get this done to protect them. This can be arranged through the child’s GP practice. You can check your child is up to date with their MMR vaccinations by looking at their personal health record (Red Book) or by asking their GP.

The early symptoms of measles can look like other illnesses: runny nose; cough;
conjunctivitis. The child may also have a high fever. The distinctive rash of measles
begins around day 3 of the illness, a rash of flat red or brown blotches appear, beginning on the face, behind the ears and spreading over the body.

Any child thought to have measles should not be sent to school. Where possible NHS 111 or the GP should be phoned for advice, rather than visiting the surgery or A&E. This is to avoid passing the infection on to others. Further details about measles can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/.

Chicken Pox

Chickenpox is common and mostly affects children, but you can get it at any age. It usually gets better by itself after 1 to 2 weeks without needing to see a GP.  Rash begins as small, read, flat spots that develop into itchy fluid-filled blisters.  It is recommended that children stay off school until at least 5 days after the on-set of the rash and all spots have scabbed over.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

• An itchy, spotty rash is the main symptom of chickenpox.
• Before or after the rash appears, children might experience:
  • a high temperature
  • aches and pains, and generally feeling unwell
  • loss of appetite

For full information about symptoms and how to treat Chickenpox please Click Here