Measles: Risks and Reality

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of measles usually begin 10–14 days after exposure to the virus. A prominent rash is the most visible symptom. Early symptoms usually last 4–7 days. They include:

Running nose Cough Red and watery eyes Small white spots inside the cheeks.

The rash begins about 7–18 days after exposure, usually on the face and upper neck. It spreads over about 3 days, eventually to the hands and feet. It usually lasts 5–6 days before fading.

Who is at high-risk for measles?

Measles can be serious in all age groups. However, there are several groups that are more likely to suffer from measles complications:

Children younger than 5 years of age Adults older than 20 years of age Pregnant women People with compromised immune systems, such as from leukemia or HIV infection

Severe complications that can occur in children and adults

Hospitalization. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized. Pneumonia. As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children. Encephalitis. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain) that can lead to convulsions and can leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability. Death. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications. Complications during pregnancy. Measles may cause pregnant women who have not had the MMR vaccine to give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby.

For more information on Measles, signs/symptoms and associated complications, please visit:

www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html