Measles Symptoms

Measles symptoms can be spotted by noticing the following:

Measles begins with a high fever. The high fever usually lasts for a couple of days. Temperatures can reach as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Celsius).

Symptoms of measles virus can also include a hacking cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (also called pink eye), which is characterised by sore, red eyes which are sensitive to light. One will then notice a rash that starts to appear on the face and upper neck. This rash then spreads down the back and trunk, and finally extends to the arms and hands, as well as the legs and feet.  After about five days, the rash fades in the same order that it appeared, face first and feet last.

The rash then disappears and the healing skin may look brown temporarily, before it sheds in a finely textured peel.

A special way of identifying the measles symptoms is by finding Koplik's spots. These are small, red, irregularly-shaped spots with blue-white centres and can be found inside the mouth. Koplik's spots usually appear 1 to 2 days before the measles rash and may be noticed by a doctor looking for the cause of a child's fever and cough.

Measles Diagnosis

Diagnosis of measles is usually based on the measles symptoms.  Various laboratory tests may help with the diagnosis, but they are usually unnecessary.

If your doctor suspects that you or your child has measles, a virus culture or serologic blood test may be needed.  This blood test can detect measles antibodies, which indicate whether you have had a recent or past infection of the disease.

If you suspect that you or your child has the measles symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible to avoid the risk of developing complications or spreading this disease.