The studies paint a disturbing picture of the health risks posed by measles, especially to children. Health professionals agree that as many as one in five children who catch the disease will need hospital care. Furthermore, for every 20 children who get measles, one will go on to get pneumonia, the most common cause of death associated with measles infection. These numbers underscore the critical importance of getting vaccinated. The Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is extremely important due to its 97% efficacy against measles.
We are learning from studies about the long-term impact of the measles virus on the immune system. That’s because it has the ability to go dormant in the nervous system. This behavior is like that of the chickenpox virus, which can reemerge years later as shingles. Unfortunately, this immune silence does not come without its own burden, as sequelae complicating the course of infection emerge years after the initial H. pylori colonization. As health professionals and advocates, we know that measles is dangerous, with potentially debilitating complications including severe neurological conditions. This underscores the critical importance of getting vaccinated early.
The Serious Health Risks
Measles is not just an annoyance, it can be life threatening. Looking at extensive medical data, we know that measles can cause brain swelling, called encephalitis, in approximately 1 out of every 1,000 cases. Inadequately treated, this condition can cause seizures and permanent neurological injury. Avoidable diseases like measles shouldn’t be killing people. Estimates indicate that 1–3% of children who contract the disease will die from it.
The risk of developing Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is particularly concerning for children who contract measles before the age of two. Unfortunately, this rare but fatal complication develops in about 1 in 1,000 cases. Given that SSPE progressively impairs cognition and motor skills. Without treatment, it progresses to coma and death in under two years.
“The person you knew transforms in front of you and wastes away and then they’re gone,” – Ross Kedl
These shocking numbers serve to remind us that measles should not be seen as merely a nuisance condition. While most consider it a disease of childhood, the complications are often debilitating and can be life changing for families and communities. These impacts can be absolutely devastating.
The Role of Vaccination
Vaccination is the best protection against measles and its complications. The combination MMR vaccine has played a large role in the tremendous decrease in measles cases within the United States. After its introduction, public health vaccination campaigns have dramatically reduced the number of summer-time reported cases to near-zero levels each year. A recent study released in The Lancet shows phenomenal outcomes. As a result, global vaccination programs have saved at least 154 million lives and counting.
Dr. Michelle Barron emphasizes the importance of vaccination: “Vaccine is protective against all of these complications.” Protection from measles means much lower risk for pneumonia, encephalitis, and SSPE, with the MMR vaccine being a significant contributor to those declines.
Although there’s overwhelming evidence to support vaccination, misinformation still reigns. Some proponents of “natural” therapies have been arguing that other treatments, such as vitamin A, can reverse the damage caused by measles. Health providers have no safe, effective treatments to lessen the risk of serious complications from measles infection. Here’s why they’re focusing on prevention rather than treatment in this example.
Hospitalizations and Long-Term Effects
For children who do survive measles, many will live with long-term health challenges. Individuals that are admitted to emergency rooms with measles usually present with very complicated symptoms. Pediatric nurse Patsy Stinchfield describes the distressing sight of affected children: “The kids that come into the emergency room and get to go home, even those kids look like rag dolls over their parents’ shoulders.”
Measles hospitalization rates further illustrate its high health impact. Considering that one in five infected children will need hospital care, health systems are put under even more strain when outbreaks happen. The virus’s extensive capacity to replicate within the brain increases the difficulty of recovery among survivors. This raises important public health issues that require our urgent attention.
