Measles symptoms: Signs you might have an infection
Measles is an airborne disease that is easily spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Infections usually occur among unvaccinated people. Symptoms generally appear seven to 14 days after a person is infected.
Measles symptoms include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose (coryza)
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis
- Red rash
- Tiny white spots, known as Koplik spots, may appear inside the mouth after two or three days of symptoms
Measles can be serious for young children, leading to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death.
If you believe you may have the measles, see your primary physician as soon as possible.
Health officials: Pearland student being treated for measles
Measles rash
After experiencing symptoms of three to five days, flat red spots will appear on the face at the hairline, and can spread to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
The CDC says measles rash can also appear to have raised bumps. As the rash appears, infected people could develop a high fever.
The rash and fever generally disappear after a few days.
Measles are rare in the United States
While measles has been eliminated in the United States because of vaccinations, outbreaks of the airborne disease do occur.
In 2014, the U.S. experienced 23 outbreaks with one large outbreak accounting for 383 cases, according to the CDC. These infections occurred primarily among unvaccinated Amish communities in Ohio.
