Monkey may have the measles. Or maybe not. It depends on how you define "has". Here are the facts: He was exposed to a live (but weakened) measles virus via the MMR vaccine on the 11th. Ten days later, the typical incubation period for measles, he developed a fever followed by a rash that keeps getting worse and is now covering his entire body head to toe. I've never actually seen the measles in person before, but his rash looks exactly like the pictures on WebMD.
Now in my world, exposure to an illness followed by symptoms of that illness equals having the illness. Apparently, in the world of political medicine, the rules are a little different. According to the CDC's vaccine website and the various vaccine manufacturers, an estimated 5% of children who get the MMR vaccine will have a fever and rash 10 days after exposure. But it's NOT the measles, it's just a "reaction to exposure." Okay, then. You can call it that if it makes you feel better (and covers your butt); I say he has the measles.
But the story isn't over yet. This morning, 13 days after the vaccine, Sassy also has a fever and a few dots that I fully expect to spread. There are three possibilities:
1. We were unlucky enough that both children had the same reaction to the same vaccine at the same time. I believe the incubation of measles is 10-14 days, so this is entirely possible despite the slight delay in Sassy's symptoms.
2. Monkey got the measles, excuse me, the "reaction to exposure" from the vaccine and then passed it on to Sassy despite the claims that a vaccine-reaction rash is almost never contagious, and this explains her delay in symptoms.
3. Both children were exposed to some completely unrelated virus about the same time as the MMR, and it's just coincidence that they have a measles-like rash so close to receiving the vaccine.
Bottom line, it doesn't really matter if it's measles or not, or how they got it. They both have a viral rash. They both are crabby as all get-out but otherwise fine. There's nothing we can do but let it run its course. And we won't be going to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, because there are 4 babies under a year in the family, and I don't want them to catch anything if it's avoidable.
3 comments:
My sister, Heidi got the measles after getting the vaccine when we lived in Japan. She was about 3 years old. In Japan, they called it the measles even though she had gotten it from her vaccine. Curious isn't it?
And I feel so bad for you! I hope they get better soon and your girls stay healthy!
A reaction but NOT the measles? What a load of bullsh*t, if you'll excuse my French. That just pisses me off. And we're supposed to trust these people??? It sounds to me like Gavin caught the measles from the vaccine and has passed it on to his sister. Even if Riley was also having a "reaction" the timing is unbelievably coincidental....
I hope both kids are on the mend soon and that they don't pass their "reaction" on to either of their older sisters.
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