Measles

Measles is a sickness caused by a tiny germ.

It spreads very easily. It moves through the air when people cough or sneeze.

When you get sick, you might have a fever. You may also have a runny nose. Some people get small white spots in their mouth.

A red rash often starts on the face. Then, the rash spreads to the rest of the body.

Most people do not get this sickness twice. A shot can help keep you safe from the germ.

This shot is a great way to stay well.

Measles is a sickness caused by a tiny germ called a virus.

This virus is very contagious. That means it spreads easily from person to person. It travels through the air when people cough or sneeze.

If you live with someone who has it, you might get it too.

Symptoms usually start 10 to 12 days after you meet the germ. You might get a fever, a cough, or a runny nose. Small white spots called Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth. A red rash often starts on the face. Then, it spreads to the rest of the body.

Measles can make people very sick. It can cause ear infections or pneumonia, which is a lung sickness. The virus can even weaken your immune system. This is the body's way of fighting germs. It can make it harder to fight other sicknesses for a few years.

There is no special medicine to cure measles once you have it. But, there is a safe vaccine. A vaccine is a shot that helps your body stay safe.

Most people do not get measles more than once.

Measles is a sickness caused by a tiny germ called a virus.

This virus is highly contagious, meaning it spreads very easily. It is an airborne disease. This means it travels through the air in tiny droplets. These droplets come from the coughs and sneezes of sick people. If you share a home with someone who has it, you might get it too. In fact, nine out of ten people who are not immune will catch it.

Symptoms usually show up 10 to 12 days after you meet the virus. At first, you might have a fever, a cough, or a runny nose. Your eyes might also become red and sore. Some people see small white spots inside their mouths. These are called Koplik spots. A few days later, a red rash appears on the face. Then, the rash spreads to the rest of the body.

This rash can eventually turn dark brown before it goes away.

Sometimes, measles can cause other hard jobs for the body. About 8% of people get diarrhea from the sickness. About 7% might get an ear infection. About 6% may get pneumonia, which is a serious lung sickness. The virus can also cause something called immune amnesia. This happens because the virus kills cells that help your body remember other germs. This can make it harder to fight other sicknesses for about two or three years.

History shows how much we have learned about this virus. In 1980, about 2.6 million people died from measles. By 1990, that number dropped to 545,000 deaths. Because of global vaccination programs, deaths dropped to 73,000 by 2014.

However, deaths have started to go up again since 2017. This is because fewer people are getting vaccinated. Doctors work hard to test for the virus to keep the public safe.

There is no special medicine to cure measles once you have it. Instead, doctors use supportive care to help you feel better. This can include healthy food and special fluids to stay hydrated. They might also give Vitamin A to children under age 5. The best way to stay safe is the measles vaccine. It is a very safe and effective shot. To keep a whole community safe, more than 95% of people need to be vaccinated.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus.

This virus belongs to the genus Morbillivirus within the Paramyxoviridae family. It is a single-stranded, negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus. While it is often thought of as a childhood illness, it can affect people of any age. Humans are the only natural hosts for this virus, though mountain gorillas may be susceptible. Because it spreads so easily, it is considered one of the most contagious human pathogens. Understanding how it moves through a community is vital for public health.

The virus spreads primarily through the air. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they release respiratory droplets. These droplets can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours.

A person can also catch measles through direct contact with nasal or mouth secretions. The virus is extremely efficient at spreading. If nine out of ten non-immune people share a living space with an infected person, nine of them will likely become infected. This high rate of transmission makes it difficult to contain without high levels of community immunity.

Symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after a person is exposed to the virus. The illness often begins with a prodrome, which is an early set of symptoms. These include a fever that increases in a stepwise fashion, a cough, a runny nose, and inflamed eyes. This group of symptoms is often called "the three C's": cough, coryza (a head cold), and conjunctivitis.

Two to three days after symptoms start, small white clusters called Koplik spots may appear inside the mouth. These spots look like grains of salt on reddened areas near the molars. They are a specific sign used to identify measles.

A few days after the initial symptoms, a characteristic red, flat rash appears. This maculopapular rash usually starts on the face or behind the ears. It then spreads downward to cover the rest of the body.

As the rash heals, it may "stain" by changing from red to a dark brown color. While many cases are uncomplicated and resolve within 7 to 10 days, the virus can cause serious complications. These occur in about 30% of cases and are often caused by the virus's effect on the immune system.

Common complications include diarrhea, which affects 8% of cases, and middle ear infections, which affect 7%. Pneumonia is another common complication, occurring in about 6% of patients.

More severe issues include encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, and blindness caused by corneal ulceration. The virus can also cause "immune amnesia." This happens because the virus destroys memory lymphocytes, which are cells that help the body remember how to fight previous germs. This leaves the immune system weakened for two to three years, increasing the risk of other infections.

History shows how much global health efforts have changed the impact of this disease. In 1980, approximately 2.6 million people died from measles. By 1990, that number fell to 545,000.

Through global vaccination programs, the death toll dropped to 73,000 by 2014. However, because vaccination rates have decreased since 2017, deaths have begun to rise again. In the United States, between 1985 and 1992, the death rate was 0.2%. In areas with high malnutrition, the fatality rate can reach as high as 10% or even 28%.

There is no specific treatment to cure the measles virus once a person is infected. Doctors instead provide supportive care to manage symptoms. This includes using oral rehydration solutions to prevent dehydration and providing healthy food.

Vitamin A supplementation is also recommended for children under age five. If secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia occur, doctors may prescribe antibiotics. The most effective way to prevent the disease is through the measles vaccine. To achieve herd immunity and protect the whole community, more than 95% of the population must be vaccinated.