Measles is an airborne disease caused by a virus infection that spreads very easily. Measles can be serious. Children younger than 5 years of age and adults older than 20 years of age are more likely to suffer from complications.
- Some of the more common measles symptoms include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 40 C)
- Dry cough
- Runny nose (coryza)
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), and
- Rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin)
- Sore throat
- Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek – also called Koplik’s spots
- A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another
Its complications, which can be fatal, include ear infections, blindness, swelling of the brain, and pneumonia. In fact, measles is one of the top causes of death among children below the age of 5.
How do you prevent measles?
It’s simple: Get vaccinated. If you think you’ve been exposed to measles and haven’t been vaccinated, you still can get the vaccine within 72 hours of exposure to be effective.
Not sure? Ask your doctor.
* All content published is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.