Measles is caused by a virus.
Symptoms include fever, runny nose, hacking cough, red eyes, and a red itchy rash.
The diagnosis is based on typical symptoms and the characteristic rash.
Although the majority of children recover, occasionally measles can be fatal or lead to brain damage.
Routine vaccination can prevent the infection.
Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms.
Before measles vaccination became widely available, measles epidemics occurred every 2 or 3 years, particularly in preschool-aged and school-aged children. Small, localized outbreaks occurred during the other years. Measles is still common in other countries. Worldwide, each year, measles infects about 10 million people and causes about 100,000 to 200,000 deaths, primarily in children. In the United States, measles is uncommon because of routine childhood vaccination. From 2000 to 2007, an average of only 63 cases per year were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, in 2019, 1,282 cases of measles were reported to the CDC. This is the highest number reported since 1992. The increase is the result of fewer children receiving the measles vaccine because some parents refuse it and the result of infection that is spread by travelers or immigrants from areas where measles is more common. Infection that is spread by travelers or immigrants especially occurs in places where many people group together (such as college campuses) or communities that limit contact with outsiders (such as traditional-observant Jewish communities, Amish, and Mennonites). In 2020, only 13 cases were reported in the United States amid the COVID-19 global pandemic COVID-19 COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness that can be severe and is caused by the coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms of COVID-19 vary significantly. Two types of tests can be used to diagnose... read more .
A woman who has had measles or has been vaccinated passes immunity (in the form of antibodies) to her child. This immunity lasts for most of the first year of life. Thereafter, however, susceptibility to measles is high unless vaccination is given. A person who has had measles develops immunity and typically cannot contract it again.
Children become infected with measles by breathing in small airborne droplets of moisture coughed out by an infected person. About 90% of people who are not immune to measles develop the disease after they are exposed to a person with measles. Measles is contagious from several days before until several days after the rash appears.
Symptoms of Measles
Measles symptoms begin about 7 to 14 days after infection. The infected child first develops a fever, runny nose, hacking cough, and red eyes. Sometimes the eyes are sensitive to bright light. Before the rash begins, tiny, bright red spots with white or bluish white centers (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth. These spots may resemble grains of sand. Then the child develops a sore throat.
A mildly itchy rash appears 3 to 5 days after the start of symptoms. The rash begins in front of and below the ears and on the side of the neck as irregular, flat, red areas that soon become raised. The rash spreads within 1 to 2 days to the trunk, arms, palms, legs, and soles and then begins to fade on the face.
At the peak of the illness, the child feels very sick and develops eye inflammation (conjunctivitis), the rash is extensive, and the temperature may exceed 104° F (40° C). In 3 to 5 days, the temperature falls, the child begins to feel better, and any remaining rash quickly fades.
Complications of measles
Brain infection (see encephalitis Encephalitis Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain that occurs when a virus directly infects the brain or when a virus, vaccine, or something else triggers inflammation. The spinal cord may also be involved... read more ) occurs in about 1 out of 1,000 to 2,000 children with measles. If encephalitis occurs, it often starts with a high fever, headache, seizures, and coma, usually 2 days to 2 weeks after the rash appears. The illness may be brief, with recovery in about 1 week, or it may be prolonged, resulting in brain damage or death.
Pneumonia Overview of Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of the small air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) and the tissues around them. Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Often, pneumonia is the final... read more 
caused by measles infection of the lungs occurs in about 5% of people. In infants, it is a common cause of death. Sometimes, the pneumonia is caused by bacteria rather than the measles virus.
Excessive bleeding may occur after the measles infection resolves because the person's blood platelet levels become low (thrombocytopenia Overview of Thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia is a low number of platelets (thrombocytes) in the blood, which increases the risk of bleeding. Thrombocytopenia occurs when the bone marrow makes too few platelets or when... read more 
). People usually have bruising of the skin and mild bleeding, but occasionally bleeding is severe.
Temporary liver inflammation (hepatitis Overview of Hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. (See also Overview of Acute Viral Hepatitis and Overview of Chronic Hepatitis.) Hepatitis is common throughout the world. Hepatitis can be Acute (short-lived) read more ) and diarrhea may occur during an infection.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a progressive and usually fatal brain disorder, is a rare complication of measles that appears months or years later and causes mental deterioration, muscle... read more is a rare complication of measles that causes brain damage and death often over years of progressive brain deterioration.
Diagnosis of Measles
A doctor's evaluation
The diagnosis of measles is based on the typical symptoms, Koplik spots, and characteristic rash.
Blood tests to identify the virus are done mainly to document cases for public health purposes so that health officials can try to contain outbreaks and limit further spread.
Prognosis for Measles
In healthy, well-nourished children, measles is usually not serious. However, even in the United States, about 2 in 1,000 children infected with measles die. Worldwide, about 100,000 to 200,000 people die of measles each year, mainly children. Undernutrition Undernutrition Undernutrition is a deficiency of calories or of one or more essential nutrients. Undernutrition may develop because people cannot obtain or prepare food, have a disorder that makes eating or... read more 
and vitamin A deficiency Vitamin A Deficiency Vitamin A deficiency can result from a diet low in vitamin A or an absorption or liver disorder. Night blindness is an early symptom. Blindness can eventually develop. The eyes, skin, and other... read more may increase the risk of death in people infected with measles.
Prevention of Measles
Measles vaccine
Measles vaccine Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a combination vaccine that helps protect against these three serious viral infections. The vaccine contains live but weakened measles, mumps... read more , one of the routine immunizations of childhood Childhood Vaccination Schedule Most doctors follow the vaccination schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC—see the schedule for infants and children and the schedule for older children... read more , is given between 12 and 15 months of age but can be given to children as young as 6 months during a measles outbreak or before international travel. A second dose is given between 4 years and 6 years of age. Children who were less than 1 year of age when immunized still need 2 doses after their first birthday. The vaccine that is used is a combined vaccine. The combination contains measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines and sometimes also varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. There is no longer a separate vaccine just for measles. In some children, the vaccination causes mild fever and a rash, but people are not contagious. The vaccine does not cause autism (see MMR vaccine and autism Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and concerns about autism Despite the strong vaccine safety systems in place in the United States, some parents remain concerned about the use and schedule of vaccines in children. These concerns can lead some parents... read more ).
Children (and adults) who are exposed to measles and do not have immunity may be protected by vaccination within 3 days of exposure. People who should not receive the vaccine, such as pregnant women, people with certain cancers or untreated tuberculosis, and people with serious illnesses or weakened immune systems, instead are given immune globulin for protection when they are exposed to measles.
Treatment of Measles
Vitamin A
Drugs to reduce fever
There is no specific treatment for measles. Doctors give vitamin A to children with measles, because vitamin A has been shown to reduce the number of deaths and serious disease resulting from measles in countries where vitamin A deficiency is common.
Children with measles are kept warm and comfortable.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be given to reduce fever.
If a bacterial infection develops, an antibiotic is given.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Generic Name | Select Brand Names |
|---|---|
vitamin a |
A Mulsin, Aquasol A, Dofsol-A |
acetaminophen |
7T Gummy ES, Acephen, Aceta, Actamin, Adult Pain Relief, Anacin Aspirin Free, Apra, Children's Acetaminophen, Children's Pain & Fever , Comtrex Sore Throat Relief, ED-APAP, ElixSure Fever/Pain, Feverall, Genapap, Genebs, Goody's Back & Body Pain, Infantaire, Infants' Acetaminophen, LIQUID PAIN RELIEF, Little Fevers, Little Remedies Infant Fever + Pain Reliever, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Infants, Mapap Junior, M-PAP, Nortemp, Ofirmev, Pain & Fever , Pain and Fever , PAIN RELIEF , PAIN RELIEF Extra Strength, Panadol, PediaCare Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Children's Smooth Metls Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infant's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pediaphen, PHARBETOL, Plus PHARMA, Q-Pap, Q-Pap Extra Strength, Silapap, Triaminic Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol 8 Hour Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8 Hour Muscle Aches & Pain, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Children's, Tylenol Children's Pain+Fever, Tylenol CrushableTablet, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Infants', Tylenol Infants Pain + Fever, Tylenol Junior Strength, Tylenol Pain + Fever, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat, XS No Aspirin, XS Pain Reliever |
ibuprofen |
Advil, Advil Children's, Advil Children's Fever, Advil Infants', Advil Junior Strength, Advil Migraine, Caldolor, Children's Ibuprofen, ElixSure IB, Genpril , Ibren , IBU, Midol, Midol Cramps and Body Aches, Motrin, Motrin Children's, Motrin IB, Motrin Infants', Motrin Junior Strength, Motrin Migraine Pain, PediaCare Children's Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, PediaCare Infants' Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer IB, Samson-8 |
