The first symptoms of measles appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and are usually accompanied by a high fever (103 degrees Fahrenheit or more), cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a red, itchy rash. The rash begins as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the red spots.
Measles and rubeola are very similar diseases with a similar set of symptoms, complications and treatments but are caused by different viruses. Measles is a highly contagious disease and can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia (lung infection), encephalitis (brain infection) and diarrhea.
Symptoms develop quickly and can be very severe for babies and children. They can be very distressing but most people recover without treatment, although some can suffer serious complications that can be life-threatening.
In many cases, the illness is mild and lasts a week. However, some children can develop a more serious form of measles called rubeola which can cause more severe problems and is much more likely to result in hospitalisation or death.
It is important to know the symptoms and complications of measles as they can be very worrying for both children and adults. If you have any concerns then contact your doctor or local health authority immediately to ensure the best possible care and support is available for you.
Measles is a very contagious illness and can be spread easily to other people from the day the rash appears until 4 days after it has gone away. About 9 in every 10 people who are not immune to measles will catch it if they come into contact with an infected person during this period.
This can happen because the measles virus lives in contaminated respiratory droplets that are carried through the air when someone with measles coughs or sneezes. These droplets can remain in the air around the infected person even when they are no longer breathing in contaminated air, so it is important to avoid sharing food, drink or toys with them.
If you or your child does become infected, they will need to stay home from school and nursery until their rash has completely gone away for at least 4 days. This is to protect them from catching other illnesses that could be more dangerous and to help reduce the risk of spreading the measles virus to others.
The measles rash is very similar to the rash you might get after being exposed to chicken pox, although it is a lot more widespread and will look different on each person. It begins as flat red spots on the skin and spreads downward to the whole body, with small raised bumps appearing on top of the rash.
Measles is caused by a virus which invades the cells of the body and uses cellular components to complete its life cycle. The virus normally infects the respiratory tract, but can also infect other parts of the body including the spleen, lymph nodes and liver. In addition, it can also affect the brain and heart. In some cases, measles can destroy the cornea of the eye and cause keratitis or retinopathy. Corneal ulcers and retinopathy can be very dangerous as they can cause blindness.
