Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. Measles starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat, and is followed by a rash that spreads all over the body. About three out of 10 people who get measles will develop one or more complications including pneumonia, ear infections, or diarrhea.
Transmission
Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Also, measles virus can live for up to two hours on a surface or in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.
Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.
Measles is a disease of humans; measles virus is not spread by any other animal species.
Symptoms
The symptoms of measles generally appear about 7-14 days after a person is infected. Measles typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose (coryza), and red watery eyes.
2-3 days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth.
3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and 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° Fahrenheit.
After a few days, the fever subsides and the rash fades.
Measles can be a serious in all age groups. However, children younger than 5 years of age and adults older than 20 years of age are more likely to suffer from measles complications.
Complications
Common measles complications include ear infections and diarrhea. Some people may suffer from severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs), encephalitis (swelling of the brain), or permanent hearing loss. They may need to be hospitalized and could die.
Measles may cause pregnant woman to give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for a measles infection. Treatment includes comfort measures to relieve symptoms - such as rest - and treating or preventing complications.
Vaccination and Prevention
Measles can be prevented with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Healthcare providers recommend that your child get 2 doses of the MMR shot for best protection.
Children:
- DCHHS provides vaccines for children at the main clinic located at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway. For more information call (214) 819-2163.
- DCHHS also provides vaccines for children only at clinics in the community.
Adults:
- DCHHS provides vaccines for adults at the International Travel office located at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway. For more information call (214) 819-2162.
More Information
- CDC Health Advisory – Measles Exposure at a Large Gathering in Kentucky, February 2023
- Measles Vaccine Recommendations from CDC
- CDC’s Measles Vaccination Recommendation for Parents
- www.cdc.gov/measles/
- www.dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles-rubeola
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