Epilepsy can result from measles

DEAR DR. ROACH: When I was young, I had mumps and chickenpox, and one type of measles (German measles?) when I was 16, and the other when I was about 18. I had three grand mal seizures within 12 months after the second round of measles. I was told that the seizures were a result of the second bout of measles. I have been on anti-seizure medication ever since with no problems. There is no history of epilepsy in my family that I am aware of.

I was told that my epilepsy was caused by the measles. Is this correct? I am now in my 70s. I would not wish those childhood illnesses on anyone.

ANSWER: Measles can be complicated by swelling of the brain (encephalitis) or by the even more serious condition acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Both of these conditions can be fatal, but even those who survive can be left with permanent neurological damage, including epilepsy.

It’s possible this was the cause, but age 18 is not unusual for epilepsy to first show up, so I cannot be sure.

The timing is suggestive that it might have been due to measles.

I also do not wish these vaccinepreventable diseases on anyone, which is why I consistently recommend vaccines.

Young adults who were not vaccinated as children should receive catch-up immunizations as adults.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My mother was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as an adult. She has always taken a long time to recover from lung illnesses, and has had episodes of bronchitis and occasionally pneumonia. She was told that she has an unusual gene mutation. What is my risk?

ANSWER: Cystic fibrosis is a multisystem condition affecting mostly the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. It is caused by one of many mutations in the cystic fibrosis gene (called CFTR), which codes for a protein whose job is to regulate the movement of chloride ions across receptors. When this protein isn’t working properly, secretions can become thick, and over time they can damage small structures of the body, especially in the pancreas, upper airway (including sinuses) and lungs.

Increasingly, we are recognizing that CF is a broad spectrum of illness. Some of the mutations in the CFTR gene are very serious and cause the classic form of CF, usually diagnosed by the age of 2.

However, other abnormal genes, such as what your mother seems to have, cause a much milder disease that may not be recognized as CF until later in life (if ever). CF should be considered in any person with recurrent sinus and pulmonary disease.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition, but since there are two copies of the CFTR gene, it acts as a recessive trait, meaning that a person needs to have two abnormal copies of the gene to have symptoms of the disease.

Thus, both of your mother’s parents must have had a genetic mutation. That means you are certain to have inherited a genetic mutation from your mother (since both of her copies are abnormal), but if your father’s genes were normal, you would be a carrier for CF (although the specific mutation you inherited confers greater or lesser risk).

I contacted an expert in CF, Dr. Rodney Folz at Case Western Reserve University, who recommended you consider genetic testing for family planning.