Measles ... Questions

[Bobbi]

My doctor thinks I might have measles; she's scheduled to see me tomorrow afternoon. And, yet, I'm scheduled to go away for the weekend :eek:.

If someone (adult) has had measles in childhood, can they get it from someone who is contagious? or who has measles? or are others immune? How long before it's no longer contagious?

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

Why does your doctor think you might have measles? Have you had them before? Do you remember if it is was a light case or not? I am assuming you have had them before. Normally, you wouldn't contract it again but I am not positive about that. I am trying to think because I had something similar like that occur back in high school...way after I had had measles. And I can't remember the name of it now but it was SIMILAR to measles....like in the same vein only different. Seems like it started with an R and it wasn't Rubella; I just can't remember but it was just on my chest and abdomen and stayed there...didn't spread anywhere else.

[Bobbi]

I've got red itchy spots on my torso, arms and legs; it started last week (I was running a temperature for a few days). I described how it looked when it started, and how it appears now.

Fleas have been ruled out (my dog has never had a single flea); I'm not on any new medications; I've not eaten anything unusual; etc.

I don't know if I've had measles before. (I'm not in contact with my parents; I haven't had any communication with them since detectives paid them a visit re: child abuse, so I can't/won't find out from them.)

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

I would THINK you probably have had measles although I know of someone who got it as an adult. So, I just don't know. I don't know how long the contagion can last but I do know it IS highly contagious. Do you have any spots on your face or forehead, or a cough or runny nose or anything like that?

I finally found what I was looking for and it was Pityriasis Rosea. And then there is the Fifth Disease thing too.

I hope your doctor can get it figured out tomorrow. :(

[Jo6]

if you aren't running any fever I would think it would be alright as long as you felt like going. Don't take my word for it though, i'm no Dr.,Nurse or in the medical field at all.

I had shingles when I was 7 and people tell me that isn't possible, only old people get them. Well I'm old now but 7 isn't too old:D I also had a bad case of chicken pox when I was young.

Do what the Dr. tells you, I would hate to be responsible for making you sicker. you take care, Julia

[Jo6]

My Dr. thought I was exposed to measles when I was pregnant and I had to get the gama something or the other injection just to be on the safe side.

You would think these childhood things would not resurface. Bobbie, I am very sorry about the parent thing:( You take care which ever you do, Julia

[Bobbi]

((( Thanks, Kathi & Julia )))

I've a runny nose and sore throat, yet, until today, I was chalking it up to my usual (known) allergies - for which I take Zyrtec. My eyes have also been watery and itchy, so I kicked in Mucinex DM (which my doctor had suggested in the past when congestion was terrible).

I also thought of maybe a swarm of mosquitos (sp?) - since the itchies and spots pretty much cover my body (except my face for some reason), only I've not been bit by any. This started on my right shoulder (the front), then, appeared on my chest; next, my arms and legs.

No changes in laundry detergent, soap, and so on either.

[Jo6]

BOBBIE!! You haven't been rolling around in the woods with a bunch of chiggers have you?:D Now that is one miserable thing. I love the mountains but I am very careful where I sit when I'm there:p

I was spending the week with my brother and our grands and I was the only one that smoked. I always went out and sat on a step to smoke. My niece would keep my company. she and I got chiggers EVERYWHERE!! That was hossible. Having measles again is horrible too. get well my dear, Jo

[Jo6]

Bobbie, I am on a roll here. I have posted about 5 times without getting dumped off. A record!! hope it last!!:)

[Mark N]

Bobbi, I hope you don't have the measles and based on your amount of illness you probably don't. They are supposed to really hit you hard when you get them as an adult. I think the contagious stage is over by the time you have an outbreak [double check I sould be mixing it up with another illness].

[Bobbi]

I had called a friend - at her work - before calling my doctor and before posting; I asked her what the possible signs of chickenpox and measles are, and also asked about heat rash, etc. She mentioned shingles, but I've been through that and it appeared totally different.

Gotta be honest... she didn't mention anything about chiggers :D.


I tried my best, Mark, to get the doctor to see me next week instead of tomorrow, yet she was insistent. Watch this turn out to be some weirdo allergy or something from playing with lady bugs or something totally strange.

[curiousforever]

All I can say is I"m sorry!

Hugs....

[mrsdoubtfyre]

do you have?

The first signs of measles are a fever, runny nose, red and runny eyes, and a cough. A few days later, a rash appears in the mouth. The rash consists of tiny white dots on a reddish bump. This rash is called Koplik's spots. They are important in diagnosing measles because they do not occur with other diseases. Koplik's spots are accompanied by a red, sore, swollen throat.

This is a diagnostic sign... if you do not have Koplik's spots, you do not have measles.

[rod52]

HI bobbi,
I just wanted to ask if you were ever vaccinated for measles(MMR vaccine), and wish you good luck with your doctors appt.

Best wishes,
kurt

[DiMarie]

Hi Bobbi,

I had both types of measles as a kid, the one you feel like death and the other, you show up at school with blotches and they send you home.
I am 52 now. They did not immunize back then.

But, as an adult I got Roseaola, it mimics measles. Not near as sick. I think my older son had Roseola too.....
Feel better soon,
Di

[BrokenBladder]

Bobbi I wish I had some answers for you. I'm so sorry. The one thing I can tell you is that what you're describing dosen't sound like fifth disease. My son has had that and it did itch like what you're saying. Take care and hopefully you can still make your trip after your doctor's appointment.

[Mark N]

When I had the measles as a child the symptom that I remember other than the ones already given was sensitivity to light. I had to wear sunglasses in the house because of the sensitivity and the fever along with the itch is something I still remember about the measles. Bobbi, I hope it turns out to be something different and that you don't feel too sick with this illness.

[Bobbi]

Mrsdoubtfyre, thank you so much for the info. you cited. I honestly cannot tell you or anyone if I've experienced the Koplik's spots. I'm approx. a week into this - whatever it is - now; I hadn't thought much of this "situation" when I first felt feverish... b'cuz I tend to run a temp at times anyway with all the arthritis (auto-immune) stuff running its course in my body all the time. I ignored what I thought was just part of having AS: a temp. at times.

Because my allergies are also at a high point right now, I can't tell if the white spots in my mouth are allergy-related (which is what happens when the allergies are maxing out my immune system) or something else.

I stuck a flashlight up to my mouth and did look. I can see my throat is inflamed - raw, bright red and a few white spots. In the past, because my doc said those are nodes and will shrink with age, I just can't tell what's what.

There is such an overlap between what might be related to my (known allergies), I'll have to trust my doc. to make whatever dx tomorrow. Her speciality is internal medicine.

I am not going to take my allergy med. in the morning or any Mucinex DM, so that she may have a better take on what's happening.

My known allergies are: Alfalfa, cut lawn/grass, hay, and a tree that I don't know (its name); it gets tiny, white blossoms each Spring. When a breeze wafts the branches, the blossoms fall like tiny snow flakes.


Kurt, I don't know if I've been vaccinated in childhood. I have no records - from my childhood. I mentioned about the "relations" with my parents earlier in the thread. My parents wouldn't give me my records even when in contact with them; they surely won't, now, since I called the police on them for child abuse and my attorney filed a civil suit against them for the "damages" they caused by their actions. Part of the reason for the suit was: access to my own health info.


Di, it is like blotches (now) on my skin. It appears worse after I've showered or bathed.

This evening, I tried wearing a pair of jeans, and it really irriated the "situation" on my legs. I couldn't stand the feel of the fabric. It just itched so much.

I'm hopeful that this is just a bad thing that will pass very soon! It's probably better if it turns out to be some weirdo allergy, but I have no idea what it would be since I've not been exposed to anything different than I have in the past. (Never had a reaction like this before.)

[mrsdoubtfyre]

The reason I posted to you is that many doctors have never seen a case
of measles (real measles)...so don't know how to diagnose it.

This is a very aggressive pollen season for many of the regions of the US.

There are many viral causes of sore throat... most commonly infectious mononeucleosis...which has a specific blood test for it.

My son had this recently with severe sore throat with white spots. It was mono.

Measles is not common. If you have it...It is a serious thing.

[Lea]

Bobbi,

You could also have scarletina from a strep infection. You really need to get a throat culture. If it is strep you don't want it to possibly turn into rheumatic fever, especially with your history of immunity problems.

Go to the doctor girlfriend!

[Bobbi]

I saw my doctor today; she said that the blotches resemble measles and doesn't know that it is not measles, but tends to think that it is an allergic reaction - and, to what, she doesn't know :eek:.

She totally ruled out bites (mosquito, spider, fleas, etc.), fresh fruit, detergents, perfume.... yadda yadda yadda.

This is what she said to do:

Keep my windows closed, stay indoors, stop taking Mucinex DM, and increase Zyrtec.

If it's not better in a week, back to her I go. If it's better, but still lingering, it's off to an allergist. If increasing the Zyrtec also makes me more drowsy, I'm supposed to call her and she'll revise the "plan."

Without the Zyrtec I've been taking, she said, it'd be far worse right now if this is allergy-related, and I'd be feeling as if I want to peel off my skin. (In the middle of the night, when the itchies are awakening me, it does feel like I want to rip off my skin :(.)

Did I mention? I feel like total sh*t.

She also doesn't know if I've had measles or have had its vaccine; she has all my med. records that both she and I could gather.

The people I'm set to visit for the holiday have contacted their doctors, whom have told them that they will be okay even if it is measles.

This shall be a lovely holiday while I hole up indoors and give it more days to see what happens. I know it could be worse, but it sucks!

[Mark N]

Bobbi,
Nothing like going to the doctor and finding out all it could be but not what it is. I hope you start feeling better soon. mark

[curiousforever]

Good Grief.

Sorry they can't figure it out.

[Bobbi]

As long as I don't scratch my skin off, I'll be in good shape :D.

I know that I definitely will not be trying any new foods any time soon, or eating any fresh fruit; I don't want to muddle with what she's already ruled out.

Also, she said that the first time I had P-CN (sp? - for the antibiotic), it didn't show any allergic reaction. It is generally the second time, as with me, that something will generate that unwanted, allergic reaction. That's also why she said to stop the Mucinex DM, though she suggested it to begin with. She also wants to eliminate it as a possible contributor to this.

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

I am sorry the doc couldn't get it figured out. :( Maybe just the Zyrtec alone will help.

But I agree. I wouldn't try anything new. I went through this years ago when my daughter was very, very young. Loooong story but I ended up taking her to a pediatric allergist who sorted it all out. In the end, it was just a 1/2 a teaspoon of Benadryl every day until she outgrew most of it.

I hope you start to feel better.