16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because ashe is so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 if anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot 1 loveGod whom he has not seen.
21 And his commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
The rash of measles, also known as rubeola, starts on the head and spreads to the trunk (chest and upper back) , arms, and legs over a few days .
What is measles?
It used to be one of the “usual childhood diseases” that most of us over age 55 years contracted as children, prior to the use of the vaccine. It is caused by a virus in the Paramyxoviridae family and spread by person to person contact.
The other childhood diseases were
Rubella, or German measles
Chicken pox, or varicella
Roseola
Fifth Disease, or erythema infectiosum
These all cause a rash, called an exanthem.
Mumps was also a common childhood disease but does not usually cause a rash.
Symptoms of measles include cough, nasal drainage, reddened, inflamed eyes, and a rash as pictured below.
image courtesy of the CDC- Centers for Disease Control , U.S. government
There is no specific treatment and it runs its course in about 1-2 weeks. Antibiotics are not effective .
Most of those infected recover uneventfully but there can be serious complications including pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Preventing measles and other exanthems
After the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963 the number of reported cases was reduced by 99%. In 2000 measles was declared no longer endemic ( occurring routinely) in the United States. Thus public health officials consider an outbreak a major setback in the control of infectious disease.
Measles vaccine is usually administered as a “3 in 1” vaccine- the MMR, which has been vilified as a possible cause of autism, although that has been thoroughly discredited.
The other two letters in the mix stand for mumps and rubella (also known as German measles) both of which are also caused by viruses and for which no treatment exists.
No vaccine exists for roseola or Fifth Disease, but we have an effective vaccine for chickenpox.
You can listen to 2 DOCS TALK about mumps at this link or read the transcript.
“But recent increases in those who choose to have their children forego vaccines has led to a loss of herd immunity and an increase in these outbreaks.
To further complicate the issue, it seems that immunity wanes with time, which is why many college students (hello spring break!) find themselves falling ill eight to ten years after their last booster at age 12 to 15.”
My family receives vaccines, including the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and believe any potential risk is worth the benefit. I urge you to think carefully and talk to a trusted physician before you decide to forgo vaccination for yourself and especially for your children.
Thanks for visiting this blog and considering this vital information as we explore the HEART of health together.
watercress words by Dr Aletha 
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