MMR vaccine

The measles virus is spread via airborne respiratory droplets. Here are some of the ways people can get this infectious disease:

• Being next to an infected person who coughs or sneezes
• Breathing contaminated air (the virus may survive in the air for two hours)
• Dancing, hugging, kissing, or engaging in any other close contact with an infected person
• Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching contaminated objects

The first symptoms of measles usually occur from 10 to 12 days after exposure.

Measles is a life-threatening viral infection. It is extremely contagious and is more dangerous for poorly nourished children, people with suppressed immunity, and people aged 20 or older.

Common symptoms

The common symptoms of measles start to develop 10–12 days after exposure. They include the following:

• Runny nose
• Fever
• White lesions inside the cheeks
• Watery, red eyes
• Sore throat

Severe symptoms

About 30% of patients develop measles-related complications. They are more common among children aged 5 or younger and adults aged 20 or older. Here are the most common complications:

• Diarrhea (8% of cases)
• Ear infections (7% of cases)
• Pneumonia (6% of cases)
• Seizures (0.6%–0.7% of cases)
• Encephalitis (0.1% of cases)

Duration of symptoms

After the incubation period (10–12 days), people develop mild symptoms of the measles that last for 4–7 days. These include runny nose; cough; and red, watery eyes. A few days later, a rash appears and gradually spreads all over the body. Typically, people with the mild form of the disease start to get better about 4 days after the rash appears. However, in about 0.2% of cases, patients die from measles-related complications.

No specific treatment for measles is available. People usually get better within 10 days after the symptoms appear. However, if complications occur, patients might need to be treated immediately. Treatment depends on the type of complication. About 0.2% of patients with measles die even when disease management has been adequate.

Mumps is an acute viral infection that first affects human salivary glands. It usually occurs in childhood. However, adults also get mumps and if they do, they are at higher risk of having the severe form of the disease and of development of serious health complications.

• Being next to an infected person who coughs or sneezes
• Breathing contaminated air (the virus may survive in the air for two hours)
• Dancing, hugging, kissing, or engaging in any other close contact with an infected person
• Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after you touch contaminated objects

The first symptoms of mumps usually occur from 16 to 18 days after exposure.

Mumps is a viral infection that is found throughout the world. Though it is mainly a self-limited, mild infection (sometimes even asymptomatic), it may lead to deadly complications and long-term disabilities.

No symptoms

About 30% of people infected with mumps have no symptoms. Adults are more likely than children to have the asymptomatic form of the disease.

Common symptoms

The majority of people have the mild form of mumps infection, which is usually characterized by the following signs and symptoms:

• Parotid gland swelling (in 70% of cases)
• Difficulty chewing
• Pain in the testicles
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Fever
• Weakness

Severe symptoms

Severe symptoms of mumps infection are the result of complications that may lead to serious long-term health consequences (including infertility, neurological complications, and deafness) or death.
The most common mumps-related complications and the likelihood of their development are listed below:

• Orchitis (inflammation of testicles): 15%–30% of cases
• Meningoencephalitis: 1%–10% of cases
• Oophoritis (inflammation of an ovary): 5% of cases
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): 4% of cases

Duration of symptoms

Patients who do not have mump-related complications will most likely recover within 10 days. Those with the complicated form of the disease will need more time to recover and may develop serious long-term consequences. Sadly, 1.4% of patients die because of mumps-related meningoencephalitis. Mainly, those who survive the disease will be immune to it for a lifetime.

People with mumps usually recover within two weeks without any specific treatment. Rest and symptomatic care are recommended. Patients with complications need specific care in the hospital. Unfortunately, about 1.4% of them will die due to mumps-related meningoencephalitis.

Rubella is spread via close contact with an infected person (exposure to an infected person’s sneeze or cough, kissing, dancing, etc.) and from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby.

The first symptoms of rubella usually occur from 12 to 23 days after exposure.

The severity of rubella varies from person to person. Some patients have mild symptoms of rubella or even no symptoms at all, while others have deadly complications.

No symptoms

In about 25%–50% of cases, infected people have no symptoms.

Common symptoms

After the incubation period (two to three weeks), symptomatic people start to experience rubella-related signs and symptoms, especially the following:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Rash (in 50%–80% of cases)
• Swollen glands
• Joint pain (in adults)

Severe symptoms

Severe symptoms of rubella are more likely to occur in adults. They may include the following:

• Inflammation of nerves
• Bleeding problems
• Testicular swelling

One of the most serious health consequences is the transmission of rubella from an infected mother to her unborn baby (which happens in 90% of cases). This may result in severe birth defects and disabilities in newborns or the death of the unborn child.

Duration of symptoms

Children usually recover from the disease within seven days. In adults, the rash may last for another week and the swollen lymph nodes and joint pain may last for two more weeks. This infection is mild in the majority of patients. However, it kills about 20% of unborn babies of infected pregnant women.

There is no specific treatment for rubella. People usually recover without any medical care within a week. However, patients with rubella-related complications may need symptomatic treatment.

Pregnant women must be aware of their condition and contact a doctor to address management of the situation.

MMR vaccine is safe and effective. The majority of people do not have any vaccine-related side effects. But as with any vaccine, some adverse effects are possible:

To help you to make a final decision about getting an MMR vaccination, [4] MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) VIS https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/mmr.html we’ve tried to summarize the possible scenarios below.

Today, the best way to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella is immunization. However, if you have not been able to get immunized before your departure, please try to follow the suggestions below to protect yourself from these diseases and their complications.

The MMR vaccine is a live vaccine that protects from measles, mumps, and rubella infections. It is a part of the routine immunization schedule in the majority of middle- and high-income countries. This fact has helped to dramatically reduce the number of cases and deaths from these three infections worldwide.