This document is available in the following languages in PDF format. Measles can sometimes lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia. About one child in 2,000 who contracts measles will develop inflammation of the brain. For every ten children who become affected in this way, one will die and four will have permanent brain damage. Measles can be caught through coughs and sneezes from an infected person.
Measles still causes deaths in Australian children.
A rare condition called SSPE can develop in children several years after a measles infection. SSPE rapidly destroys the brain and is always fatal. Mumps Mumps causes fever, headache and inflammation of the salivary glands. Occasionally it causes an infection of the membrane covering the brain, but permanent side effects are rare. The disease can also cause permanent deafness.