Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf-ChecksLabs and TestsDifferential DiagnosesFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Measles GuideMeasles Prevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Self-Checks
Labs and Tests
Differential Diagnoses
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Measles Guide
Nearly 246 people worldwide, usually children, die per day from thispreventable disease.
Measles-related deaths most frequently occur in developing countries with poor healthcare systems, but there are more and more outbreaks of measles in the United States and Europe due to lowered vaccination rates.
© Verywell, 2018
If you or your child have developed thesymptoms of measles, particularly a high fever with the measles rash and bright red spots with white centers in your mouth (Koplik’sspots), it’s probably safe to say that you have measles.If you or your child are unvaccinated and have been exposed to someone with measles or traveled internationally, measles is even more likely.
If you think you or your child has measles, call your healthcare provider right away, but don’t leave your house unless your practitioner instructs you to. Considering that nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed to someone with measles get it too, you can end up putting a lot of people at risk.
Your healthcare provider may make special arrangements with you in order to make a diagnosis.
Your healthcare provider will look for the very same signs and symptoms you did in your self-check when considering measles, as well as ask about your vaccination and travel history. Even if you’ve been immunized, it’s possible to get measles, though unlikely as two doses of the measles,mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 94%-97% effective.Suspected cases of measles are required to be reported to local health departments within 24 hours.
Toconfirma case of measles, your healthcare provider will likely run some blood tests and take a throat and/or nose swab. These tests detect the virus-specific indirect immunoglobulin M (IgM), an antibody that’s usually present about three days after your rash appears. The antibody may not show up before then, will generally peak at day 14, and is usually gone about 30 days after your rash first appears. You may also have a urine sample taken since the measles virus can be present there as well.
Your samples may be sent to your state health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where they may be cultured in order to determine the genotype of the virus.Genotyping can help discover or rule out links between measles cases and outbreaks, as well as distinguish whether you actually contracted the measles virus or you’re reacting to a recent measles vaccination.
Measles Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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Your healthcare provider may need to rule out other illnesses before diagnosing you with measles. This is especially true because measles is fairly rare in the United Statesand most practitioners have never seen anyone with it. That said, measles is fairly easy to diagnose when you know what you’re looking for and blood tests can confirm it. Other illnesses your healthcare provider may rule out depend on how long you’ve been showing symptoms of measles.
Before the Rash Appears
During the few days before the measles rash appears, it may seem like you have a respiratory virus such as the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or a rhinovirus, which is typically the virus responsible for the common cold. Two to three days after symptoms begin, the Koplik spots may appear in your mouth.They can be mistaken for Fordyce spots, which are enlarged oil glands.
However, your fever is generally higher with measles than with other viral infections, which is one clue that you don’t have a typical viral infection.
Measles can also be mistaken for dengue fever before or after the appearance of the rash, but this can be ruled out with a blood test.
After the Rash Appears
Once the rash has appeared three to five days after your other symptoms, other illnesses that your healthcare provider may want to rule out could include:
Other illnesses that cause respiratory symptoms and a rash may be mistaken for measles. These could include chickenpox, roseola, rubella, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, fifth disease, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, or an allergic reaction. A healthcare provider can make the diagnosis based on your symptoms, an exam, and a blood test.
Yes. Measles is initially diagnosed based on symptoms such as fever, rash, and spots in the mouth.However, it’s possible to mistake these signs for measles instead of other conditions. You should see a healthcare provider to confirm you don’t have an illness such asscarlet feverormononucleosis, which require different treatments.
Should You Get a Measles Booster?
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles Cases and OutbreaksCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.Povey M, Aris E, Cheuvart B, Hall G, Cohet C, Willame C.Effectiveness of “Priorix” against measles and mumps diseases in children born after 2004 in the United Kingdom: A retrospective case-control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD Database.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40(6):590-596. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003111Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should KnowCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles (Rubeola).Laboratory testing for measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scarlet fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Clinical overview of measles.Gans H.Measles: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.World Health Organization (WHO).Measles.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles Cases and OutbreaksCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.Povey M, Aris E, Cheuvart B, Hall G, Cohet C, Willame C.Effectiveness of “Priorix” against measles and mumps diseases in children born after 2004 in the United Kingdom: A retrospective case-control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD Database.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40(6):590-596. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003111Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should KnowCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles (Rubeola).Laboratory testing for measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scarlet fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Clinical overview of measles.Gans H.Measles: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.World Health Organization (WHO).Measles.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles Cases and OutbreaksCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.Povey M, Aris E, Cheuvart B, Hall G, Cohet C, Willame C.Effectiveness of “Priorix” against measles and mumps diseases in children born after 2004 in the United Kingdom: A retrospective case-control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD Database.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40(6):590-596. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003111Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should KnowCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles (Rubeola).Laboratory testing for measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scarlet fever.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles Cases and Outbreaks
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.
Povey M, Aris E, Cheuvart B, Hall G, Cohet C, Willame C.Effectiveness of “Priorix” against measles and mumps diseases in children born after 2004 in the United Kingdom: A retrospective case-control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD Database.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40(6):590-596. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000003111
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles (Rubeola).Laboratory testing for measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About scarlet fever.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rocky mountain spotted fever.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Clinical overview of measles.Gans H.Measles: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.World Health Organization (WHO).Measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Clinical overview of measles.
Gans H.Measles: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.
World Health Organization (WHO).Measles.
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