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Measles Information
Symptoms
7–14 days after a measles exposure: first symptoms show
Measles symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days (but can take as little as 7 days and as long as 21 days) after contact with the virus. Measles typically begins with:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
2–3 days after symptoms begin: Koplik spots
Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth 2 to 3 days after symptoms begin. These spots have been described as grains of salt on a red background.
3–5 days after symptoms begin: measles rash
Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
- Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
- The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
- When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104°F.
- After a few days, the fever usually subsides and the rash fades in the order it appeared.
In people who are partially immune to measles that become infected, symptoms may not follow the expected pattern.
Common complications from measles are:
- Ear infections occur in about 1 out of every 10 children with measles.
- Diarrhea is reported in less than 1 out of 10 people with measles.
Severe complications in children and adults
Some people may suffer from severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). They may need to be hospitalized and could die.
- Hospitalization. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.
- Pneumonia. As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
- Encephalitis. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). This can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
- Death. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic (brain) complications.
Measles immune amnesia.
Measles immune amnesia occurs when the measles virus wipes out part of your immune system’s memory of past infections, making it harder for your body to fight off other diseases. This means that even if you were previously protected against certain infections, you might lose that protection after contracting measles. As a result, you can become more vulnerable to other illnesses for months or even years following a measles infection.
Complications during pregnancy.
Pregnant women who have not had the MMR vaccine may face risks like premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby.
Long-term complications
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is a very rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system. It results from a measles virus infection acquired earlier in life.
How is measles treated?
There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles. Care focuses on relieving symptoms, making the person comfortable, and preventing and managing complications, such as bacterial infections.
What should I do if I was exposed to someone with measles?
Review your records. Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the MMR, or have medical documentation of past measles infection.
Get vaccinated if needed. If you lack proof of immunity, consult your healthcare provider or local health department about getting vaccinated.
Watch for symptoms. Monitor yourself for up to 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever or a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your provider or local health department if they develop.
Avoid high-risk settings. If you are not immune and have been exposed to measles, you should not work in an adult care home, correctional facility, healthcare facility, or attend or work in a school, childcare facility, or adult day care for 21 days following the last known exposure to measles. To help prevent the spread of measles, consider staying home. If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time so they can take any necessary steps.
Information from: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1501/Measles-Rubeola