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Measles, mumps and rubella are infections caused by three different germs (viruses). They usually affect children, but you can catch them at any age. Most children make a full recovery. But some get serious complications that can cause long-term problems. Rubella is usually a mild illness, but it can damage your unborn child if you catch it while you're pregnant.

Measles spreads very easily from person to person. Mumps and rubella (also called German measles) do not spread so easily.

You are most likely to catch one of these infections by breathing in droplets in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes.¹ These droplets contain the germ (virus) that causes the infection. You can also catch rubella by touching someone who has the infection. And there's a possibility that the mumps virus may also be spread though urine.

If you are infected, you can pass on these diseases before you see any symptoms, such as a rash or swelling. To find out more, see How long am I infectious?

Your child is more likely to catch these infections if they haven't been vaccinated against them. But there are some other things that make a child more likely to catch the infections. These are called risk factors. They include:²

• Low "herd immunity." This means that not enough of the children where you live have been vaccinated. The more people who have been vaccinated, the more difficult it is for the virus to pass from person to person. If you live in an area where not many people have been vaccinated, your child has more chance of catching the virus²
• Overcrowding. When people live close together, measles, mumps and rubella viruses are more easily spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Newborn babies are less at risk of catching measles than older babies and toddlers. Your baby is also less likely to catch mumps in their first year. They are protected by special substances called antibodies, which they get from their mother. Antibodies help the body to recognize and fight off germs. So a baby coming into contact with a virus is ready to fight it off.

However, during recent outbreaks of measles in the United States, more babies caught the disease than was expected.³ That's because babies born to vaccinated mothers have fewer antibodies than babies of mothers who have been naturally infected with measles.^{4 5}

If you or your child catches measles, mumps or rubella, there's no treatment that can get rid of the viruses. Your own body will get rid of the infection naturally. But you can take painkillers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to make you feel better in the meantime.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.