Chickenpox, Measles, and Mumps

Measles, Mumps and Rubella

“…A persisting cough characterizes the convalescent stage, which may persist up to one to two weeks after the rash resolves. 5 Measles-induced complications affect approximately 30% of infected individuals, especially young children (ages < 5) and adults (ages ≥ 20). 1,4 The most commonly reported complications are diarrhea (8%), otitis media (7%), and pneumonia (6%).…”

“…Measles has not been proven to cause birth defects. 1,4,5,8 If a non-immune pregnant patient is exposed to measles just before delivery, in utero and intrapartum viral transmission is likely to cause a serious infection in the neonate. 5 The risk can be reduced with passive immunization (see post-exposure interventions).…”

“…2,4,11 For instance, an 11 year-old boy with mumps traveling from the United Kingdom in 2009 transmitted the disease to people susceptible to exposure in New York, eventually spreading across the East Coast and into Canada. 1,11 Over half (53%) of the reported cases from this multi-state outbreak involved school-aged children (ages [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. This is likely due to their close and consistent contact at school.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The most concerning of these is rubella as it can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) with devastating effects. 3,4,6,7 In this review, we consider each of the diseases in turn and address the role of vaccination in preventing these diseases and their complications.…”

Varicella Zoster Virus Infection in Pregnancy

“…There is thought to be an even greater risk associated with pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester. Presumably, this is caused by maternal immunosuppression, which is most intense during this period (Gershon, 2001). …”