MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella)

The diseases

Measles, Mumps and Rubella are diseases with serious complications:
• Measles can cause a range of symptoms from ear infections and bronchitis to convulsions (fits) or brain damage and can even be fatal.
• Mumps used to be the main cause of viral meningitis in children. It can also cause temporary deafness, miscarriage, inflammation of the pancreas and pain and swelling in the testicles.
• Rubella (German Measles) can cause swelling and fever and can be passed onto unborn children resulting in serious birth defects.

The vaccine

MMR is a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella. It is the safest way to protect yourself against these diseases. You need two doses of MMR to be protected against mumps. MMR was introduced in 1988, with a second dose being introduced in 1996. Some teenagers and young people have not had two doses of MMR. This has led to several outbreaks of mumps in young people in recent years.

If you think that this might apply to you, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to check and, if necessary, book an appointment to have the second dose. If you have never had the MMR vaccine, you should have one dose now and another after three months. For those of you who are not sure if you have had your second dose – having more than two will not do any harm - so it is better to have it than not.

Click here for more information about MMR and where to get vaccinated.

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Possible side effects

You may experience side effects from the MMR vaccine for up to six weeks after the immunisation. The symptoms are similar to those caused by the diseases but in a very subdued and mild form. You should speak to your doctor if you are in any way worried about the side effects.

Meningitis C

The disease

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the lining surrounding the brain. It can be caused by many different organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and amoeba. Some bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning) – this is when the bacteria enters the bloodstream and multiplies uncontrollably. Meningitis and septicaemia are serious and often fatal conditions. It is most common in infants under one, but the next highest risk group are 15 – 19 year olds.
In the UK, meningitis B and C are the most common types of meningitis. Meningitis C accounts for 40% of cases in the UK.

Signs and symptoms

Meningitis and septicaemia are not always easy to recognise at first. In the early stages, signs and symptoms can be similar to many other more common illnesses, for example flu or even a hangover.
The common signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia are shown below. Early symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), muscle pain and fever with cold hands and feet.

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The Glass Test

Spots or a rash that do not fade under pressure will still be seen when the side of a clear drinking glass is pressed firmly against the skin.
Trust your instincts, if you suspect meningitis or septicaemia, get medical help immediately.

A wallet-sized copy of these symptoms is available for free from the Meningitis Trust. Email: info@meningitis-trust.org or call their 24 hour nurse-led helpline 0800 028 18 28. You can also get more details about the disease from their website at: http://www.meningitis-trust.org/

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The vaccine

The vaccine is given by injection. It has been routinely given to children under one since November 1999, and a ‘catching-up’ exercise took place to try and ensure that other young people had the injection too. If you have had the new MenC vaccine before you will not need it again. However, if you think that you may have been missed out (or you are not sure whether you had the new vaccine –before November 1999) you should contact your doctor straight away to check and (if necessary) book an appointment to have the vaccination – adults and children over 1 will only need one jab.

The MenC vaccine will protect you against one of the most common types of meningitis, but will not protect against all types of the disease. So it’s very important that you know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.

Possible side effects

The most common side effects of the vaccine are redness and swelling at the site of the injection, mild fever and headaches – the side effects are usually very mild and will have subsided completely within a day or two of the injection.
 

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