Measles Symptoms, Vaccination and Treatment

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. This means outbreaks can spread very quickly, especially in communities where the number of people who have been vaccinated is low.

What Is Measles?

Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus. It mainly affects the respiratory system, leading to a widespread rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. This disease spreads through direct contact with droplets or viral particles in the air, typically from an infected person who coughs or sneezes, making it one of the most easily spread diseases.

Measles is contagious before most people realize they are sick — increasing the risk of spreading the disease to others. Someone with measles can spread the virus up to four days before the rash appears. The virus can continue to be spread to others until about four days after the rash has appeared.

Measles Symptoms

Knowing the common symptoms of measles is important for identifying the illness and receiving care quickly. Signs and symptoms of measles include the following:

• High fever (greater than 101° F)
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Red, watery eyes
• Distinctive red rash, usually starting on the face at the hairline and spreading to the rest of the body (the rash typically starts several days after the above symptoms develop)

Complications from Measles

Complications from measles are rare but can be very serious. It’s important to get vaccinated against measles and seek medical care quickly if you think you have measles. Complications include:

• Encephalitis: Swelling of the brain can occur in about one in every 1,000 cases of measles.
• Pneumonia: This is an infection in the lungs.
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE): A condition affecting the brain and nerves that gets worse over time and is life threatening. SSPE can develop seven to 10 years after a person has measles, even though they seem to have fully recovered.
• Blindness: Loss of vision can occur due to damage to the eyes, especially in vitamin A-deficient populations.

If you are exposed to measles, it is important to monitor for symptoms due to the incredibly contagious nature of the virus. Most people will develop symptoms 10 to 12 days after exposure. Vaccination with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine significantly reduces your risk of getting measles. Infants, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems should seek medical advice immediately if exposed, as they may require additional care to prevent complications.

Measles Outbreaks and Cases

In recent years, measles has started to appear more often, causing concern for public health. These outbreaks reveal communities where fewer people have been vaccinated and highlight the vulnerability of certain groups of people. In the past, measles was a common childhood illness. When the measles vaccine became widely used, however, there was a major drop in the number of cases. Despite this success, current outbreaks often occur in regions where vaccination rates have gone down because people have concerns about receiving vaccines or have difficulty getting access to vaccines.

Prevention Through Vaccination

Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to prevent measles. The Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine is designed to protect against measles, mumps and rubella. Its widespread use has drastically reduced the number of cases of these illnesses around the world. When most people in an area are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, it not only protects individuals who receive the vaccine, but also helps protect people who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons. This is called herd immunity.

Froedtert Pharmacy locations offer the MMR vaccine. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment.

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In rare cases, vaccinated individuals can still get the disease. The MMR typically offers about 97% protection after two doses. Those who have been vaccinated and still get measles tend to experience milder symptoms and have fewer severe complications.

Measles Immunity

You are immune to measles if you have documentation of any of the following: 

• You’ve received two doses of measles-containing vaccine.
• You’ve had a blood test that determines you have immunity.
• You’ve had a blood test that confirms you were exposed to measles.
• You were born before 1957.

Here are some tips to find your vaccination records. 

Measles Vaccinations

If you were born in or after 1957, and you do not have evidence of immunity against measles, you should get at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

If you don't have vaccination records, contact your primary care doctor or clinician to ask for one dose of the MMR vaccine.

Because the MMR vaccine is a live vaccine, the following groups of people should not get vaccinated.

• Those with severe life-threatening allergies
• Women who are pregnant (women should avoid getting pregnant for at least one month after getting the MMR vaccine)
• Those with immunosuppression, such as receiving chemotherapy or steroids, or those with advanced AIDS (note that HIV positive status alone is not a reason why you should not get the MMR vaccine)
• Those with tuberculosis
• Those who’ve had a live vaccine in the past 4 weeks
• Those with certain precautions for vaccination: moderate or severe acute illness, recent receipt of antibody containing blood products, thrombocytopenia, personal or family history of seizures

Treating Measles

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, so care focuses on easing symptoms and monitoring for more serious complications. Suggested treatment includes a combination of rest, hydration and fever management, often using over-the-counter fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease discomfort. You may want to use humidifiers and nasal saline to relieve respiratory symptoms like cough and congestion.

If you are infected, you should avoid close contact with others, particularly those who are unvaccinated or have weakened immune systems, as measles is highly contagious. Stay home and avoid going to work, school or crowded places until the risk of spreading the virus to others has passed. This is typically about four days after the the rash appears. Stay hydrated, avoid rubbing or touching your eyes and follow your health care team’s instructions.