A 3-year-old child with up-to-date immunizations has been exposed to measles within the last 2 days. What is the best course of action?

A 3-year-old child with up-to-date immunizations has been exposed to measles within the last 2 days. What is the best course of action?

• A. Administer the MMR vaccine to help prevent disease.
• B. Give immune globulin to mitigate the response.
• C. Reassure the parent that most exposed children will not get measles.
• D. Give antiviral medications at the first sign of symptoms.

Answer: (A)

Post-exposure vaccination with MMR within about 72 hours can prevent measles in someone who has been exposed and is not yet fully immune. A healthy 3-year-old who has started the measles vaccination series should receive the MMR vaccine promptly after exposure to boost immunity before illness develops, since the vaccine given soon after exposure can prevent or lessen the disease in those not yet immune. Immune globulin is reserved for high-risk situations (such as immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women without immunity, or very young infants) or when vaccination isn’t feasible, but isn’t the first choice for a healthy preschooler within the window of exposure. Relying on reassurance ignores the real risk after exposure, and antiviral medications are not a standard therapy for measles. Providing the MMR vaccine now offers the best chance to prevent disease in this child.

Post-exposure vaccination with MMR within about 72 hours can prevent measles in someone who has been exposed and is not yet fully immune. A healthy 3-year-old who has started the measles vaccination series should receive the MMR vaccine promptly after exposure to boost immunity before illness develops, since the vaccine given soon after exposure can prevent or lessen the disease in those not yet immune. Immune globulin is reserved for high-risk situations (such as immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women without immunity, or very young infants) or when vaccination isn’t feasible, but isn’t the first choice for a healthy preschooler within the window of exposure. Relying on reassurance ignores the real risk after exposure, and antiviral medications are not a standard therapy for measles. Providing the MMR vaccine now offers the best chance to prevent disease in this child.