Measles Quiz
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Rashes
Have a fever
Redness of the skin
Rash starting from the face
Fever then no fever then fever again
Fatigued
Intensely red eye
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Measles?
Infection with the measles virus is extremely contagious as it's easily transmitted through airborne particles. Patients can infect others even before showing symptoms. In pregnant women, the virus can also infect and harm the fetus.
Typical Symptoms of Measles
- Skin over the entire body is red
- Fever
- Fever that returned after temperature went back to normal for a few days
- Bloodshot eyes
- Skin problem on the chest, tummy or back
- Bumpy rash that appeared, then rapidly spread to the rest of the body
- Recurrent fever episodes
- Headache
Diagnostic Questions for Measles
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Is your whole body red?
- Do you have a fever?
- Did your fever return after your temperature was normal for a few days?
- Do you have bloodshot (red) eyes?
- Are there any skin problems on your stomach, chest, or back?
Treatment of Measles
There's no specific treatment for this condition. Doctors may give medicines to relieve symptoms like fever. Certain groups, like pregnant women and those with poor immunity, may require hospitalization and medications injected through the bloodstream.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Mar 31, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- My body is hot
- Recurrent fevers
- Eye congestion
- Periodic fever (>100.4°F / 38°C)
- Bloodshot eyes
- Remittent fever of 102.2°F / 39°C
- Extremely high fever of 106.7°F / 41.5°C or higher
- Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or more for weeks
- Stomach was uncomfortable, then had a fever
- Stomachache and diarrhea before a fever
- Temperature of 102.2°F / 39°C goes up and down
See full list
Symptoms Related to Measles
Diseases Related to Measles
FAQs
Q.
Measles Symptoms? Why your rash is spreading and vital medical next steps.
A.
Measles often starts with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. A rash then appears 3 to 5 days later, starting on the face and spreading downward as the virus circulates in the bloodstream and triggers skin inflammation; you are contagious from 4 days before the rash to 4 days after. If suspected, isolate right away and call a doctor before going anywhere, especially for infants, pregnant people, and those with weak immune systems, and seek urgent care for breathing trouble, confusion, seizures, or worsening fever; there are several factors to consider, and key details that can affect your next steps are covered below.
References:
* Shanafelt T, Cogen AL, Cherry JD, Hotez PJ. Measles: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Aug 3;10(4):e0026322. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.00263-22. Epub 2022 Jul 27. PMID: 35921200.
* Griffin DE. Measles virus infection. Rev Med Virol. 2019 Jul;29(4):e2030. doi: 10.1002/rmv.2030. Epub 2019 Jan 10. PMID: 30635460.
* Kim M, Choi B, Nam HS. Measles resurgence and clinical features. J Clin Virol. 2020 Dec;133:104680. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104680. Epub 2020 Oct 26. PMID: 33139369; PMCID: PMC7587820.
* Rota PA, Rota JS. Measles. J Infect Dis. 2017 Dec 1;216(suppl_2):S424-S432. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix415. PMID: 29033320.
* Goodson R, Rota PA. Management of Measles. J Infect Dis. 2017 Dec 1;216(suppl_2):S433-S437. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix416. PMID: 29033321.
Q.
Is it a Measles Rash? Why Your Skin is Breaking Out & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A true measles rash usually appears 3 to 5 days after high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, then starts at the hairline and spreads downward as flat red spots that may merge, especially in those unvaccinated or recently exposed. There are several factors to consider; see the complete details below. If your symptoms fit this pattern, limit contact, check vaccination status, call ahead to a clinician for testing and guidance, and seek urgent care for very high fever, trouble breathing, confusion, seizures, or dehydration. More look-alikes, risk factors, and step-by-step next actions are explained below.
References:
* Almutairi, K., Aljabr, F., Alshurafa, M., Almuhammadi, A., Alrashidi, A., Alrashidi, H. M., ... & Almalki, K. (2022). Measles: a comprehensive review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. *Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease*, *7*(11), 350.
* Cherry, J. D. (2020). Differential Diagnosis of Maculopapular Rash in Childhood: Focus on Measles. *The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal*, *39*(2S), S5-S8.
* Rota, P. A., & Rota, J. S. (2020). Measles: Current Landscape. *Current Opinion in Pediatrics*, *32*(1), 127-133.
* Ligon, M., & Hotez, P. J. (2019). Measles in the 21st century: The importance of clinical diagnosis and vaccination for outbreak prevention. *Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy*, *17*(5), 323-333.
* Mina, M. J., Rota, J. S., Rota, P. A., & Hotez, P. J. (2019). Measles: current recommendations for its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. *European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases*, *38*(3), 437-448.
Q.
Is the MMR Vaccine Safe? The Medical Reality and Your Essential Next Steps
A.
The MMR vaccine is very safe and highly effective for you and your community; decades of large studies show no link to autism, most side effects are mild and brief, and severe reactions are extremely rare compared with the much higher risks from measles, mumps, and rubella. There are several factors to consider for your next steps, like confirming you have two doses, checking for contraindications such as pregnancy or severe immune suppression, and knowing when to seek medical care. See below for complete guidance and important details that can affect your healthcare decisions.
References:
* Demicheli, V., et al. (2012). Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. *Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*, (2), CD000371. PMID: 22336774.
* Stratton, K., Ford, A., Rusch, E., & Clayton, E. W. (2012). *Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality*. The National Academies Press. PMID: 24624467.
* McNeil, M. M., et al. (2014). Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine safety update. *Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases*, *27*(5), 458-462. PMID: 25036122.
* World Health Organization. (2019). Measles vaccines: WHO position paper – April 2017. *Weekly Epidemiological Record*, *92*(17), 241-264. PMID: 28459469.
* Zheng, Z., et al. (2022). Association between MMR vaccination and autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, *119*(26), e2201389119. PMID: 35728078.
Q.
Is it Measles? Why Your Skin Is Reacting & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Key signs that raise concern for measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash that starts at the hairline then spreads downward, especially if you are unvaccinated or recently exposed. If several are present, isolate and call your clinician before visiting since measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications; if the rash is mild, itchy, and without fever, measles is less likely. There are several factors to consider, so see below for medically approved next steps, when to seek urgent care, how vaccination and exposure timing affect risk, and other common rashes to rule out.
References:
* Huiming Y, Jihong H, Yan J, et al. Measles: A review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. World J Virol. 2013 May 12;2(2):49-60. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v2.i2.49. PMID: 24175184.
* Niewiesk S, Kupsch R, Kreth S. Measles: Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Eur J Med Res. 2021 May 26;26(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40001-021-00523-8. PMID: 34044816.
* Paller AS. Exanthematous Diseases in Children: A Review. Pediatr Ann. 2019 Jul 1;48(7):e272-e277. doi: 10.3928/19382359-20190620-01. PMID: 31306342.
* Moss WJ, Griffin DE. Measles: a review for clinicians. J Infect. 2016 Jan;72 Suppl 1:S17-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2015.06.009. Epub 2015 Jun 23. PMID: 26116812.
* Mulugeta H, Worku M, Bekele A, et al. Measles: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management. Infect Drug Resist. 2023 Feb 1;16:663-674. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S397626. eCollection 2023. PMID: 36741490.
Q.
Searing Sandpaper Rash? Why Your Body is Fighting Measeless + Recovery Steps
A.
A hot, rough, sandpaper-like rash that spreads from the hairline down often means your immune system is fighting measles, a highly contagious viral illness that begins with high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and Koplik spots before the rash appears. Isolate, call a clinician before visiting, use supportive care like rest, fluids, and fever reducers, and know the red flags that need urgent care, while vaccination and doctor-directed vitamin A for children lower complications. There are several important timelines, risks, and recovery steps to consider; see below for complete guidance that could change your next steps.
References:
* Moss WJ. Measles. Lancet. 2021 Oct 23;398(10310):1533-1544. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00951-8. PMID: 34688402.
* Dabbous HM, Mahfouz M, Abou-Rizk C, Khoury L, Charafeddine K, El Hage R. Measles: A Re-emerging Threat in the Post-COVID-19 Era. Viruses. 2023 Feb 17;15(2):541. doi: 10.3390/v15020541. PMID: 36851411; PMCID: PMC9962295.
* Haralambieva IH, Vessey-Strecker S, Jacobson RM. Measles: Biology, Pathogenesis, and Clinical Management. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2020 Sep 16;33(4):e00049-19. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00049-19. PMID: 32938883; PMCID: PMC7495332.
* Moll M, Zaki E, Pardo D, Obeid J, Krumholz HM, Al-Ramahi R. Clinical Presentation of Measles and Prognostic Factors: A Systematic Review. J Trop Pediatr. 2022 Jul 1;68(3):fmac035. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmac035. PMID: 35506161.
* Strecker S, Haralambieva IH, Jacobson RM. Long-term immunologic consequences of measles virus infection. Semin Immunol. 2021 Oct;56:101569. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2021.101569. PMID: 34509462; PMCID: PMC8420078.
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Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Moss WJ. Measles. Lancet. 2017 Dec 2;390(10111):2490-2502. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31463-0. Epub 2017 Jun 30. PMID: 28673424.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31463-0/fulltextMoss WJ, Griffin DE. Measles. Lancet. 2012 Jan 14;379(9811):153-64. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62352-5. Epub 2011 Aug 17. PMID: 21855993.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62352-5/fulltextDurrheim DN. Measles eradication-retreating is not an option. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 Jun;20(6):e138-e141. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30052-9. Epub 2020 Mar 17. PMID: 32197095.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30052-9/fulltextGuerra FM, Bolotin S, Lim G, Heffernan J, Deeks SL, Li Y, Crowcroft NS. The basic reproduction number (R<sub>0</sub>) of measles: a systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017 Dec;17(12):e420-e428. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30307-9. Epub 2017 Jul 27. PMID: 28757186.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(17)30307-9/fulltext