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Measles
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Skin Hair Nails

Measles

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease characterized by a blotchy red rash and systemic symptoms, preventable through vaccination.

Overview

Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily from person to person. It causes a blotchy red rash. The rash often starts on the head and moves down the body. Other symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  • Feeling achy and run down
  • Tiny white spots inside the mouth

Management and Prevention

Sometimes measles can lead to serious problems. There is no treatment for measles, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it.

"German measles", also known as rubella, is a completely different illness.

Frequently Asked Questions

The measles virus can remain suspended in the air and infectious for up to two hours after a contagious person coughs or sneezes. It is one of the most contagious human pathogens, and breathing that air or touching contaminated surfaces during this window can lead to infection in non-immune individuals.
While the standard two-dose MMR vaccine series is about 97% effective at preventing measles, a very small percentage of fully vaccinated people (around 3%) may fail to develop complete protective immunity. If a vaccinated individual does contract measles, the illness is typically much milder, shorter in duration, and significantly less likely to spread to others.
Emergency care is required if a person develops difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, extreme lethargy, persistent high fever that does not respond to medication, severe headache with neck stiffness, or confusion. These signs can indicate life-threatening complications such as severe pneumonia or encephalitis (brain inflammation).
n infected person can spread measles from approximately four days before the characteristic rash appears until four days after the rash breaks out. People are often most infectious during the early prodromal phase when symptoms resemble a common cold with cough, runny nose, and high fever.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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