For many years, the MMR viruses (mums, measles, and rubella) caused many children to die because there was no vaccine. Even though there is now a vaccine, people can still be infected by these three diseases. Of the three diseases, measles is the deadliest and can cause the worst long-term side effects. It is recognized for the marks it leaves on the people it effects. Rubella also leaves marks on the back and limbs. It isn't very dangerous to children but it can do permanent damage to babies who mother got the disease when they were pregnant. Mumps got it name because it causes the infected to mumble. This is because the disease causes an inflammation of glands around the mouth.
What are Measles?
Measles is a viral infection spread through respiration, usually coming from the nose or mouth. It is very contagious, with most people catching the virus getting sick. The disease is usually associated with the rash the disease brings, which comes after two weeks of having the virus.
What causes Measles?
Measles is a disease caused by a virus in the genus Morbillivirus. It is passed by sneezing and other respiratory contact. The virus incubates inside a human body for a week to a week and a half.
Measles Symptoms
The most obvious symptom for measles is the rash it brings which spreads across the whole body. It can also bring spots on the inside of the mouth (which are used to diagnose the disease), but they disappear after a day. Measles cause a three-day fever that can bring body temperature up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Other symptoms include a cough, runny nose, and diarrhea.
Measles Treatment
There is no treatment for Measles. Most people will heal from the disease with rest. It's important for the infected person to not have much contact with uninfected people as there could allow the disease to spread.
What causes Rubella?
Rubella, also called German measles, is a disease like measles but less potent. It is caused by the rubella virus, which is where it received its name. Like measles, Rubella is caused by airborne transmission of its virus from person to person.
Rubella Symptoms
Rubella's main symptom is a rash, but unlike measles it only lasts for five days at most. It doesn't cause the infected to have a high fever. The disease also causes the lymph nodes to swell and for the person to develop joint pain. The older the patient is, the worse the symptoms.
Rubella Treatment
Paracetamol is the drug most used in Rubella cases. Unlike the mild cases, Rubella in newborn babies can't be treated through medicine. In this case, doctors focus on treating the effects of the disease instead of the actual disease.
What causes Mumps?
Like Measles and Rubella, Mumps is caused by a virus, fittingly called the Mumps virus. It is also known as epidemic parotitis. It is spread like every other virus, through human contact. Mumps is rarely deadly, and usually doesn't cause major lasting side effects.
Mumps Symptoms
The main symptoms of Mumps are high fever, headache, and a sore throat. Most people who catch Mumps will have severe inflammation of the Parotid gland, which is located around the mouth and jaw. Some males develop inflammation of the testicles, which can lead to infertility. However, this usually only happens in older men.
Mumps Treatment
There is no specific treatment for Mumps. The best way to heal the Mumps is to give the child rest. Putting ice on the swollen glands can get rid of some of the pain; so can Tylenol. Its best to avoid foods that inflame the glands even more, like acidic food, as this can increase the pain the patient goes through.
MMR Vaccine
In 1963, a vaccine was developed to remove the threat of MMR in the United States. This vaccine has almost eliminated the three diseases from Americans and other Western nations. Although the vaccine can cause some side effects, the benefits of the disease greatly outweigh the negative aspects. The vaccine is generally given around a kid's first year, and then a booster is given around ages 4-5, before they enter school.