Out of state child treated for measles

A non-resident child was treated for measles at a Nashville hospital this week but will not be included in state statistics.

The child was seen at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt between Sunday night and Monday morning. Medical staff discharged the patient after treatment. The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed on Thursday that the child does not live in Tennessee. Because the patient is not a resident, the department stated the case will not appear in the state's official data. This marks the second confirmed measles case in Nashville this year.

State records show nine confirmed measles cases in Tennessee so far this year. Most of those cases have been reported in the eastern region of the state. One-third of the nine patients have been children.

Dr. Juan Salazar, pediatrician-in-chief at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital, noted that many recent cases involve unvaccinated individuals. He explained that children can receive the measles vaccine starting at 12 months of age. Salazar emphasized the effectiveness of the standard regimen. “We have a two-dose series, and if you get two doses, it’s 97% effective, so almost guaranteed you won’t get measles,” Salazar said. It has not yet been determined whether the child treated at the hospital had received the vaccine.

Salazar advised parents that children with compromised immune systems face a higher risk of infection, even if they have been vaccinated. Common symptoms of measles include a rash, high fever, runny nose, and cough. He noted that these symptoms can also appear in other conditions. “There are other diseases that look like this, but if those are the symptoms, it’s best to call your child’s pediatrician and get some advice on where to go,” Salazar said.

The hospital maintains specific protocols for handling infectious diseases. To reduce the risk of spreading the virus, Salazar recommended that parents call their pediatrician before bringing a child to the emergency room unless the situation is an immediate emergency. This step helps staff prepare for potential exposure.