How common is measles?

Question

i saw this old ER episode (like 7th season) and all the doctors were like 'what is this' when they saw a little boy with measles, and they had to look it up in a book. Is measles really so rare that some doctors might not encounter it in their whole career?

Answer 1

Yes, I saw a lot of measles prior to 1965 when the vaccine became popular. The children were SICK. It's not just another childhood disease. Complications include very high fever, cough, secondary bacterial pneumonia, early and late onset encephalitis. In 1940, measles was the eighth leading cause of death in children.

Because of the success of the vaccine, most doctors practicing today have never seen a case. Because it is so uncommon, they rarely think of the possibility. I have seen fewer than five cases since 1970.

Because of failure of some of the older vaccine, there was an outbreak in the early 1970's. There was another outbreak around 1989, especially among college students. Unvaccinated infants also caught it, and the death rate in low-income populations was greater than it was in 1940!

Several years ago an unvaccinated teen returned from a church mission trip to aRomanian orphanage, broke out with measles and led to about 30+ (I forget the exact number) secondary cases, two of which required hospitalization. Parents told health officials they didn't immunize children because of fears of thimerosol or autism. The vaccine does not contain thimerosol, and purported links to autism have been discredited.

The reason for my going into this is to re-state that measles is a very serious disease and all children should be immunized.

Answer 2

In the U.S., it's very uncommon but still occurs. I would venture to say that some doctors might not encounter it due to lack of opportunity during clinical rotations and due to their area of practice. I agree that an ER doc and a peds would be far more likely to see measles than an oncologist, for example.

Answer 3

It's pretty rare in the USA due to the use of vaccines and overall better health of children. Its still pretty common in less developed countries. In the Philippines we have wards filled with measles patients.

Answer 4

the vaccines are working here! a small amount of kids do get measles every year and Dr's will see it during their carriers at times though i would think not as much in Er's as a pediatricians office

Answer 5

It is becoming uncommon here in US because of the immunization. But in other countries, one can still find them.