The following information was originally published in the March 2024 newsletter of the International 22q11.2 Foundation.
Measles is a serious respiratory infection caused by a virus.
Symptoms include:
- High fever
- Aches and pains
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Red eyes
- Rashes
Complications include:
- Ear infection
- Deafness
- Pneumonia
- Immune system having to re-learn how to deal with bacteria and viruses. The patient might get sick often in the next few years
- 1 in 1000 patients have swelling of the brain, often resulting in permanent brain damage
- 3 in 1000 patients have complications in the respiratory and nervous systems
- Degenerative disease of the nervous system about 7 to 10 years down the road
- Death
Measles spreads very easily through coughing and sneezing.
- 9 out of 10 people who come into contact with measles will be infected
- The measles virus can stay in the air for 2 hours
Measles is preventable through vaccination (MMR or MMRV)
- Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles
- One dose of MMR vaccine is about 93% effective
- MMR and MMRV vaccines are safe and effective
- Vaccination schedule
For individuals who are immune compromised:
- There have been four studies of the safety of the MMR vaccine in people with 22q11.2DS which showed that most people can get the vaccine safely
- Consult with an immunologist if you are not vaccinated yet
Information about Measles
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Measles (Rubeola)
- Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) – Measles
Research reports about MMR vaccines and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
- Vacinas Vivas em Crianças com Síndrome de DiGeorge/ Deleção 22q11.2 (Portuguese) [Live Vaccine in Children with DiGeorge/22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome].
- Miranda M, Martins AT, Carvalho S, Serra-Caetano A, Esteves I, Marques JG. Acta Med Port. 2019 Aug 1;32(7-8):514-519.
doi: 10.20344/amp.9802.
- Live vaccine use and safety in DiGeorge syndrome.
- Hofstetter AM, Jakob K, Klein NP, Dekker CL, Edwards KM, Halsey NA, Baxter R, Williams SE, Graham PL 3rd, LaRussa P. Pediatrics. 2014 Apr;133(4):e946-54.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-0831.
- Live viral vaccines in patients with partial DiGeorge syndrome: clinical experience and cellular immunity.
- Moylett EH, Wasan AN, Noroski LM, Shearer WT. Clin Immunol. 2004;112(1):106-112. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2004.02.008
- Safety of live viral vaccines in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge syndrome/velocardiofacial syndrome).
- Perez EE, Bokszczanin A, McDonald-McGinn D, Zackai EH, Sullivan KE.
Pediatrics. 2003 Oct;112(4):e325.
doi: 10.1542/peds.112.4.e325.