Measles

Symptoms

Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Common measles symptoms include:  

• Fever

• Cough

• Rash

• Red, watery eyes 

• Runny Nose

• Small white spots inside the mouth and throat 

What to do if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with measles

If you have symptoms or were exposed to measles, contact your doctor immediately. There is no rapid test for measles—all testing is done through health care providers. If you don’t have a provider, call 512- 972-5555 and APH can help connect you to care. 

If you get sick and need to see a doctor, call ahead to tell the doctor’s office that you may have measles so the office can schedule your appointment when other patients will not be exposed (for example, after hours). The doctor’s office may ask you to use a different entrance or stay in your car for your visit. 

Complications

Measles can cause serious health complications and death, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).

• 1 in 5 people who get measles are hospitalized

• 1 out of 1,000 people with measles develop encephalitis 

• 1 to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles die

Who is at risk

Anyone who is not immune to measles is at risk.  You become immune against measles when you get two doses of the MMR vaccine or if you were diagnosed with having measles at some point in your life

Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world. Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers who get measles while they are in other countries. These travelers are mostly Americans and sometimes international visitors.  

Young children, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised are more likely to experience complications.