Measles can cause serious long-term complications that affect various parts of the body, sometimes years after the initial infection. While many people recover fully from measles, the disease is not just a simple rash and fever; it can lead to severe health problems, some of which are permanent or even fatal.
One of the most concerning long-term complications is **subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)**. This is a rare but deadly brain disease that typically develops several years—usually 7 to 10 years—after a person has had measles. SSPE results from a persistent infection of the brain by the measles virus, causing progressive inflammation and degeneration of brain tissue. Symptoms start subtly with changes in personality and cognitive decline, then worsen to seizures, jerking movements, and severe neurological deterioration. Unfortunately, SSPE is always fatal, and there is no cure for it. The only way to prevent SSPE is through vaccination against measles.
Another serious long-term effect of measles is its impact on the immune system. Measles infection can cause a profound weakening of immune memory, which means that after recovering from measles, a person’s immune system may “forget” how to fight off other infections they were previously protected against. This immune suppression can last for months or even years, making individuals more vulnerable to other diseases such as pneumonia, influenza, and bacterial infections. This phenomenon explains why children who have had measles sometimes suffer from other infections long after the rash and fever have gone away.
Measles can also cause **encephalitis**, which is inflammation of the brain. This complication can occur during or shortly after the acute phase of measles and can lead to seizures, permanent brain damage, hearing loss, or intellectual disabilities. Although encephalitis is less common than other complications, it can have devastating lifelong effects on survivors.
Other long-term complications include **hearing loss** and **vision problems**. Measles can cause inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis) and, in some cases, lead to permanent damage to the retina or other parts of the eye, resulting in vision impairment. Hearing loss can occur due to measles-related ear infections or nerve damage.
For pregnant women, measles poses additional risks such as miscarriage, premature labor, and low birth weight infants. These outcomes can have lasting effects on the child’s health and development.
Pneumonia, a common complication during the acute phase of measles, can sometimes lead to chronic lung problems if severe or untreated. This is especially dangerous for young children, adults over 20, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
In summary, while many people recover from measles without lasting problems, the disease can cause serious long-term complications including fatal brain disease (SSPE), permanent brain damage from encephalitis, long-lasting immune system weakening, hearing and vision loss, and risks to pregnancy outcomes. These complications highlight why measles vaccination is critical to prevent not only the immediate illness but also these severe and sometimes deadly long-term effects.
