快猫短视频

THE controversial measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can sometimes cause a
rash-like reaction in children, a study in Britain has confirmed. Although this
side effect has been known for over 10 years, the latest work gives a more
accurate assessment of the risk.

The rash is the result of a bleeding disorder called idiopathic
thrombo-cytopenic purpura, or ITP, which is caused by a shortage of the
platelets involved in clotting. This can cause mild bleeding beneath the
skin.

Most children make a complete recovery within a couple of weeks. Fewer than 5
per cent of patients develop chronic problems that require treatment.

What鈥檚 more, the majority of ITP cases are caused by viral infections such as
measles, so it鈥檚 not surprising that the weakened viruses in the MMR vaccine can
also trigger it. 鈥淭he children who develop ITP after vaccination tend to have
milder symptoms than those developing it after viral infection,鈥� says Elizabeth
Miller of the Public Health Laboratory Service in London, who led the team.

Miller and her colleagues estimate that 1 in every 22,300 MMR vaccinations
results in hospital admission for the condition. They also conclude that
two-thirds of ITP cases occurring within six weeks of MMR vaccination are caused
by the vaccine.

Miller says the effects are mild compared with the risks of measles, mumps or
rubella. 鈥淲e are very open about the effects of MMR,鈥� adds team member Brent
Taylor. 鈥淭here is no conspiracy to suppress [information on] side effects.鈥�