What is measles (rubeola)?
Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) infection that causes a rash all over your body. Other symptoms are a high fever, a runny nose, coughing, swollen glands, red and watery eyes, and tiredness. It is also called rubeola.
What causes it?
Measles is a contagious viral infection. It is spread when a person who has it coughs, sneezes, or shares food or drinks. The virus can travel through the air. This means that you can get measles if you are in close contact with someone who has the virus even if they don't cough or sneeze on you.
You can spread the virus to others from 4 days before the rash starts until 4 days after the rash appeared. The virus is most often spread when people first get sick, before they know they have it.
What are the symptoms?
The first symptoms of measles are a high fever, a runny nose, and a cough. The lymph nodes in your neck may swell. You also may feel very tired and have red, watery eyes. As these symptoms start to go away, you may get tiny white spots inside your mouth, followed by a rash all over your body.
When adults get measles, they usually feel worse than children who get it.
It usually takes about 7 to 14 days to get symptoms after you have been in close contact with someone who has measles. This is called the incubation period.
How is it diagnosed?
If you think you have measles, call ahead and explain your symptoms before you go to a doctor's office. The office will want to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus. After you've had an exam, your doctor may order a blood test, a viral culture, or both to see if you have measles.
How is measles (rubeola) treated?
Measles usually gets better with home care. If you've been exposed to measles and you haven't had the vaccine, you may be able to prevent the infection by getting immunoglobulin (IG) antibody or the measles vaccine as soon as possible.
You can take medicine to lower your fever, if needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Also, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Stay away from other people as much as you can so that you don't spread the disease. Anyone who has measles should stay out of school, day care, work, and public places until at least 4 days after the rash first appeared.
Your doctor may talk to you about an extra treatment with vitamin A supplements that may prevent the symptoms from getting worse.
Babies who are younger than 12 months, people who are pregnant, and people who have impaired immune systems that can't fight infection may need to get IG if they are exposed to measles.
How is it prevented?
The measles vaccine protects against the virus. The vaccine is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella [chickenpox]) vaccines. Most children get the vaccine as part of their regular vaccination schedule.
Measles is one of the most easily spread infections. Outbreaks can easily occur. Many countries, including the United States and common travel destinations, have experienced measles outbreaks in recent years.
People who have not had this infection before or have not had the vaccine have the highest risk of getting the virus. If you don't know if you're protected from measles and you plan to travel, check with your doctor or local health clinic to see if you should get the vaccine before you travel.