I can't believe I have German Measles

[JackWilson]

Isn't this supposed to be a children's disease? Has anyone else had something like this e.g measles, mumps, chickenpox etc as an adult? Anyone had it twice?

German measles seems to be the least annoying of the lot. It only lasts for a week or so (though you're still slightly contagious for a week after that) and it's like a light case of flu without the runny nose and sore throat, i.e muscle aches, joint pains, swollen lymph nodes, general fatigue feeling.

So yeah, just wanted to get a feeling for how uncommon this is nowadays, especially since those shots you get as a child are supposed to prevent you from catching it, although I don't know how long they last.

[4_2_it]

Yikes, that sucks. I don't know anyone who has had them as an adult, but it is not that uncommon. Looks like you have a couple of weeks to practice your online backgammon skills [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Isnt this something that gets vaccinated against?

[4_2_it]

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Isnt this something that gets vaccinated against?

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Yes, but I think it wears off after 10-15 years (earlier for some, never for others) and unless you get a booster in your 20's you could catch a mild case of it. It is really dangerous to pregnant women and the baby so if OP knows anyone in that situation, it is best to avoid them for a while.

[JackWilson]

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Isnt this something that gets vaccinated against?

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I'm fairly sure I got some form of vaccination (is it this circular thing with lots of tiny needles that leaves a mark on your arm for a couple of years afterwards?) as a child but obviously I can't remember exactly what it was for since I was quite little. A bunch of people from the health department go round to schools and hand out these shots, and I assume that Rubella (the virus that causes German Measles) is on their list but who knows.

[JackWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Isnt this something that gets vaccinated against?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but I think it wears off after 10-15 years (earlier for some, never for others) and unless you get a booster in your 20's you could catch a mild case of it. It is really dangerous to pregnant women and the baby so if OP knows anyone in that situation, it is best to avoid them for a while.

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Makes sense, and it does seem like I caught it very mild. I almost don't feel sick at all. Done quite a bit of research on it by now so I know to avoid pregnant women but thanks for the headsup anyway. I think I'll just give my pool table a good workout at home till this passes.

[OtisTheMarsupial]

NO, sorry, I had it as a child. I think I'm OK now.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Isnt this something that gets vaccinated against?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm fairly sure I got some form of vaccination (is it this circular thing with lots of tiny needles that leaves a mark on your arm for a couple of years afterwards?) as a child but obviously I can't remember exactly what it was for since I was quite little. A bunch of people from the health department go round to schools and hand out these shots, and I assume that Rubella (the virus that causes German Measles) is on their list but who knows.

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I know that when I was in the Army, they lined us up every few years and hit us up with our MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) booster. Do they not do that to civilians?

[JackWilson]

Not in South Africa, and I'd be surprised if they did that anywhere else. I think that the idea is that you get the choice of whether you want to go for a vaccination as an adult or not, no-one's gonna force it on you. I suppose I could have gone, but who goes around worrying about contracting something silly like German Measles? Besides hypochondriacs, of course.

[7ontheline]

Damn those Germans! First WWII, now this!