A potential case of measles was found Wednesday in one patient who visited the Children’s Clinic at Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th and Chew streets in Allentown.
Hospital spokesman Matthew Burns said measles has not yet been confirmed and there have been no further cases of anyone else with measles symptoms at the hospital.
But he explained: "To be sure we are using all potential safeguards and precautions, Lehigh Valley Health Network is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Allentown Health Bureau to notify and protect anyone who might have come in contact with the patient."
He said Lehigh Valley Health Network is implementing guidelines set forth by the federal Center for Disease Control.
Anyone with questions is advised to contact Allentown Health Bureau’s Vicky Kistler at 610- 392-1436.
Burns provided "signs and symptoms of measles" from the CDC, which states a typical case of measles begins with mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and sore throat. Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik’s spots) may appear inside the mouth.
Three to five days after the start of symptoms, a red or reddish-brown rash appears. The rash usually begins on a person’s face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
After a few days, the fever subsides and the rash fades.
The symptoms of measles generally begin about 7-14 days after a person is infected, and include:
• Blotchy rash
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Feeling run down, achy (malaise)
• Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)