Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho Gets It?SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsPreventionOutlookNext in Measles GuideSymptoms of Measles
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who Gets It?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Prevention
Outlook
Next in Measles Guide
Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious yet preventable virus that spreads through inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Measles is a serious illness that can be especially dangerous in babies and young children.Symptomsinclude high fever and a rash that usually starts on the face or hairline and then spreads downward throughout the body.
This article discusses the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of measles.
Who Gets the Measles?
Measles causes about 100,000 deaths worldwide every year. Measles is very rare in the United States thanks to widespread vaccinations. Although public health officials had considered measles eliminated in the United States since 2000,outbreaks have increasedsince 2010.
In 2019, 1,274 individual cases of measles, mainly in the unvaccinated, were confirmed in 31 states, the most significant number of U.S. cases since 1992. In 2022, 121 cases of measles were reported in the United States in six jurisdictions.
Measles is most common in children. Unvaccinated children and adults; those who receive less than two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella(MMR) vaccine; or anyone who recently traveled to areas with active measles cases are at higher risk of getting the disease.People with compromised immune systems are also at increased risk of catching measles.
Measles Symptoms: What Does Measles Look Like?
Measles symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after coming into contact with thevirus and include:
The measles rash is a hallmark of the disease and usually begins as spots on the face and hairline that travel downward throughout the body, sometimes joining together. Small, raised bumps might also appear on top of the flat areas.After several days, the measles rash should begin to fade.
Measles Rash vs. Chickenpox RashWhilea rashis the primary symptom of both measles andchickenpox, there are differences in how the rash appears and spreads in each disease. The measles rash usually starts on the face or hairline and extends down through the body, whilechickenpox rashestypically first appear on the chest, back, or face. The chickenpox rash starts with bumps that turn into fluid-filled blisters that later become scabs, while measles rashes are generally flat and, if raised, do not contain fluid.
Measles Rash vs. Chickenpox Rash
Whilea rashis the primary symptom of both measles andchickenpox, there are differences in how the rash appears and spreads in each disease. The measles rash usually starts on the face or hairline and extends down through the body, whilechickenpox rashestypically first appear on the chest, back, or face. The chickenpox rash starts with bumps that turn into fluid-filled blisters that later become scabs, while measles rashes are generally flat and, if raised, do not contain fluid.
Measles Diagnosis
Measles is usually considered as a potentialdiagnosisin patients who have fever, rash, and other symptoms of the disease, especially if they have recently been exposed to measles or traveled internationally.Blood tests or nose and throat swabs can be taken and sent to a lab to confirm diagnosis.
Measles Treatment: At Home Symptom Relief
At-home treatments can be used to manage symptoms and help prevent further complications.They include:
Measles is highly contagious. Up to 90% of those exposed to the virus will become infected if they are not immune to it.Anyone with measles should stay isolated at home until four days after developing a rash to prevent spreading it to others and consult a healthcare provider about when it’s safe to leave isolation.
Measles Complications
Anyone can get complications from measles. However, complications are more likely to occur in the following populations:
The most common complications from measles areear infectionsanddiarrhea.Serious complications are less common but include:
Measles infection can lead to a very rare, fatal central nervous system disease calledsubacute sclerosing panencephalitis(SSPE). SSPE usually develops seven to 10 years after a person has recovered from measles. The disease may occur in those who develop measles before age 2.
Does the Measles Vaccine Prevent Measles?
Themeasles vaccineis considered the most important tool in preventing the disease. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, while one dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles.
Before 1963, when the United States measles vaccination program was licensed, 500,000 cases were reported annually. However, actual cases were estimated at 3 million to 4 million a year. Among the 500,000 reported cases prior to the introduction of the vaccine, 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000 developed encephalitis from measles.
Widespread vaccination has led to more than a 99% reduction in measles cases in the United States since the pre-vaccine era.
It’s now recommended children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years. It’s also recommended thatteenagers and adultsborn after 1957 who have not yet been vaccinated against measles or gained immunity through having had measles receive one dose of the vaccine.
For most people, measles resolve about one week after the onset of the rash without serious complications.However, about 1 in 5 people who get measles in the United States require hospitalization, and 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 will die, even with good medical care.
12 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Measles: What you should know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles cases and outbreaks.American Academy of Pediatrics.Red book online outbreaks: Measles.Yale Medicine.Measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) for healthcare providers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Transmission of measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Questions about measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccine for measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Top 4 things parents need to know about measles.
12 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Measles: What you should know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles cases and outbreaks.American Academy of Pediatrics.Red book online outbreaks: Measles.Yale Medicine.Measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) for healthcare providers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Transmission of measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Questions about measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccine for measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Top 4 things parents need to know about 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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Measles: What you should know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles cases and outbreaks.American Academy of Pediatrics.Red book online outbreaks: Measles.Yale Medicine.Measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) for healthcare providers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Transmission of measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Questions about measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccine for measles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Top 4 things parents need to know about measles.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Measles: What you should know.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) signs and symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles cases and outbreaks.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Red book online outbreaks: Measles.
Yale Medicine.Measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox signs and symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles (rubeola) for healthcare providers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Transmission of measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Questions about measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccine for measles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Top 4 things parents need to know about measles.
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