FACE PAINTING CHAT UK

[mamaoba]

I want to be prepared after the experience of last summer, sarf london's finest parents and chicken pox. (i.e I can't count the number of times at public events I had to explain to dumb parents why I wasn't prepared to paint over the spots )

What does measles actually look like? Schools in Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich are all on the alert right now with letters going out to parents etc?

Also is it on the losse in any other areas?

Though it might be handy if we all knew what to look out for specifically and am hoping some enlightened soul will be able to tell me please?

[Lolly]

Well I can only go on when I had them as a kid but they were ugly. A raised red rash that mainly formed in clumps. It didn't have a head on it like the pox. There are other things that do look like that aren't measles like hand foot and mouth and roseloa (sp). Still I wouldn't be getting my child painted with any rashy thing.

[the model]

Google (image search) the complaint and it will come up with pics of most illness related visual symptoms.

[YvonneH]

This is a pic of a child with measles. The rash comes on very quickly and covers their body starting under the arms and around the back of the neck - basically anywhere that is warm and possibly damp!!

I discovered this as my ds had a rash last year and when I took him to see the out of hours they said it could be measles (he was too young for his MMR by about 2 weeks ) and to take him to the GP's asap if it got any worse. I did only to be told it was a viral rash and shown a pic of what measles really looked like

I would also hope any child with measles would be far too poorly to be out and about let alone getting their face painted but you never know with some parents.

[raineshoe]

Trouble is people don't know what measles looks like these days as its not as common.

[YvonneH]

LOL but the doctors should know surely I felt such a fool when my GP was saying Adam definately did not have measles but thankfully he did ask me why I thought he did so I told him about the out of hours

[mamaoba]

Sorry if I sound dumb but I can chicken pox a mile off after last year, and was wondering if there are any early warning signals to watch for with measles.

I'd clock it in full swing but is there an incubation period prior to the onset of the proper rash? and when they are safe again afterwards?

Also are any other LEAs sounding the alert? I know a lot of peeps travel a fair distance at time for jobs so it would be helpful if we could share with each other if a measles alert is in force in our areas. South East London is on full alert, with letters being sent home to parents at all schools and nurseries etc.

There are lots of new painters on here too.

It'd be awful if one of us swallowed a tale re heat rash and indavertently wrecked a perfectly good kit

[Erica]

the incubation period for measles is 9-11 days
symptoms of measles are(copied and pastied from bbc website)
* Cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, watery eyes, swollen eyelids, and sneezing.
* Red eyes and sensitivity to light.
* A mild to severe temperature, which may peak over 40.6C (105°F) for several days. After several days temperature may fall, but may go up again when the rash appears.
* Tiny greyish-white spots (called Koplik's spots) in the mouth and throat.
* Tiredness, irritability and general lack of energy.
* Aches and pains.
* Poor appetite.
* Dry cough.
* Red-brown spotty rash that appears 3 to 4 days after first symptoms, and last for up to eight days. The spots usually start behind the ears, spread around the head and neck, and after 2 to 3 days spread to the legs and the rest of the body. The spots start small but quickly get bigger and often join up together. Similar looking rashes may be mistaken for measles, but measles has a range of symptoms, not just a rash.