What Are Measles?
Measles is a virus that travels throughout the body and causes a fever, rash, red eyes, runny nose, and cough. It is transmitted like the common cold, and an infection usually creates lifelong immunity.
A mild case will typically run its course on its own in about a week. A moderate cause may cause an ear infection or pneumonia. Both are generally treatable, and fairly uncommon.
Serious cases can lead to encephalitis or encephalopathy where the brain becomes inflamed and dysfunctional. These cases are few and far between.
Measles Stats/Current “Outbreak”
Measles have essentially been eradicated in the US. In the early part of the twentieth century, there were about 1 million cases every year in the US. Now only 50-100 cases are reported.
You have probably heard that there has been a recent “outbreak.” Let’s look at those numbers.
Measles Cases in 2024: 45 cases (as of March 7)
Measles Cases in 2023: 58 cases
Measles Cases in 2022: 121 cases
Measles Cases in 2021: 49 cases
Measles Cases in 2020: 13 cases
Measles Cases in 2019: 1,274 cases
History of Measles
Years ago measles was generally considered a childhood disease that did not overly concern most parents. In fact, it was expected that every child would contract Measles by the age of 15. For the vast majority of sufferers, it is not a serious illness.
Worst year of measles in US history:
1958: 763,094 REPORTED cases (0.4%).
It is estimated 3 to 4 million people in the US were actually infected each year, but likely not reported due to treatment at home.
Pre-vaccine era an estimated 400 to 500 people died of measles, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 suffered encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Natural Measles Preventative: Vitamin A
There is a lot of research that clearly shows Vitamin A to be one of the most important nutrients in protecting against Measles (1,2,3).
One study noted that children who suffer the worst from Measles are often deficient in Vitamin A, and many do not show any signs of deficiency other than in bloodwork (1).
Can’t Vitamin A Be Toxic?
If you Google Vitamin A you may come across a lot of “vitamin A toxicity” articles. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which means the body doesn’t excrete any excess, which can lead to toxicity. So, just be mindful of how much you’re taking or giving daily.
MMR Vaccine: Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Out of the three, Measles is the most “serious” disease. However, even in the worst measles year in US history the number of serious cases and deaths is still fairly low.
Mumps is almost never fatal, but can be troublesome for teens and adults when it comes to fertility.
Rubella is harmless to children and adults alike, but can cause defects and stillbirth. The main reason children are vaccinated is to limit the exposure to pregnant women.
MMR Vaccine: Options to Consider
Some families delay this shot until their child is entering school, or later when they are approaching the teen years (when measles and mumps are more severe). If you do wait, Dr. Sears recommends waiting no longer than age ten.
Other families choose only to get 1 dose instead of 2, since 1 dose works perfectly well in 95% of children (5).
If you do desire to give this vaccine “on schedule,” you can request that it not be given alongside any other vaccine. Wait 3-4 weeks and then go back for whichever vaccine you may have withheld if desired.
Sources:
1 Hussey, G.D. and M. Klein, A randomized, controlled trial of vitamin A in children with severe measles. N Engl J Med, 1990. 323(3): p. 160-164.
2 Asaria, P. and E. MacMahon, Measles in the United Kingdom: can we eradicate it by 2010? BMJ, 2006. 333(7574): p. 890-895.
3 Rosales, F.J., Vitamin A Supplementation of Vitamin A Deficient Measles Patients Lowers the Risk of Measles-Related Pneumonia in Zambian Children. J. Nutr., 2002. 132(12): p. 3700-3703.
MMR Vaccine: The Vaccine Book by Robert W. Sears, MD, FAAP
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