This means that the infection can spread very easily from person to person. Additionally, an infected person can go on to spread the virus to anywhere between 9 and 18 susceptible individuals. A person that has measles can spread the virus to others before they even know that they have it. An infected person is contagious for four days before the characteristic rash appears.
The main risk factor for catching measles is being unvaccinated. Additionally, some groups are at a higher risk of developing complications from measles infection, including young children, people with a weakened immune system, and pregnant women.
If you suspect that you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, contact your doctor immediately. They can evaluate you and direct you where to be seen to determine if you have the infection.
Doctors can confirm measles by examining your skin rash and checking for symptoms that are characteristic of the disease, such as white spots in the mouth, fever, cough, and sore throat. If they suspect you may have measles based on your history and observation, your doctor will order a blood test to check for the measles virus. The virus and symptoms typically disappear in about two or three weeks.
There are some interventions available for people who may have been exposed to the virus. These can help prevent an infection or lessen its severity.
This is because the vaccine was first licensed in Before then , most people had been naturally exposed to the infection by their adolescent years and became immune as a result. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , serious complications are not only more common in young children, but also in adults over the age of These complications can include things like pneumonia , encephalitis , and blindness.
At least one dose of the vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated adults. Babies receive some protection from measles through passive immunity, which is provided from mother to child through the placenta and during breastfeeding. However, research has shown that this immunity can be lost in just over 2. Children under 5 years of age are more likely to have complications due to measles. These can include things like pneumonia , encephalitis , and ear infections that can result in hearing loss.
The incubation period of an infectious disease is the time that passes between exposure and when symptoms develop. The incubation period for measles is between 10 and 14 days.
After the initial incubation period, you may begin to experience nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, cough, and runny nose. The rash will begin to develop several days later. In addition to a classic measles infection, there are also several other types of measles infections that you can get. Atypical measles occurs in people who received a killed measles vaccine between and When exposed to measles, these individuals come down with an illness that has symptoms such as high fever, rash, and sometimes pneumonia.
Modified measles is typically milder than a regular case of measles. Hemorrhagic measles is rarely reported in the United States.
It causes symptoms like high fever, seizures , and bleeding into the skin and mucus membranes. However, it can cause serious complications if a woman develops the infection while pregnant. Both viruses:. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing measles infection.
The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one vaccination that can protect you from measles, mumps , and rubella. Children can receive their first vaccination at 12 months, or sooner if traveling internationally, and their second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.
Adults who have never received an immunization can request the vaccine from their doctor. Side effects to vaccination are typically mild and disappear in a few days. They can include things like fever and mild rash. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Signs and Symptoms. Minus Related Pages. Measles is serious. Related Links.
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. If you've already had measles, your body has built up its immune system to fight the infection, and you can't get measles again.
Most people born or living in the United States before are immune to measles, simply because they've already had it. Promoting and preserving widespread immunity. Since the introduction of the measles vaccine, measles has virtually been eliminated in the United States, even though not everyone has been vaccinated.
This effect is called herd immunity. But herd immunity may now be weakening a bit, likely due to a drop in vaccination rates. The incidence of measles in the U. Preventing a resurgence of measles.
Steady vaccination rates are important because soon after vaccination rates decline, measles begins to come back. In , a now-discredited study was published incorrectly linking autism to the measles-mumps-rubella MMR vaccine. In , there were nearly 1, lab-confirmed cases of measles in England and Wales. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview Measles Open pop-up dialog box Close. Measles Measles causes a red, blotchy rash that usually appears first on the face and behind the ears, then spreads downward to the chest and back and finally to the feet. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Goodson JL, et al. Measles 50 years after use of measles vaccine. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine.
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