What is measles (rubeola)?

Measles is a very contagious (easily spread) infection that causes a rash all over your body. It is also called rubeola. The measles vaccine protects against the illness. The vaccine is part of the MMR and MMRV vaccines. Most children get the vaccine as part of their regular shots.

The first symptoms of measles are a high fever, a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and a cough. The lymph nodes in your neck may swell. You also may feel very tired and have diarrhea and red, sore eyes. As these symptoms start to go away, you will get tiny white spots inside your mouth, followed by a rash all over your body.

When adults get measles, they usually feel worse than children who get it.

It usually takes about 7 to 14 days to get symptoms after you have been around someone who has measles. This is called the incubation period.

If you think you have measles, call ahead and explain your symptoms before you go to a doctor's office. After you've had an exam, your doctor may order a blood test, a viral culture, or both to see if you have measles.

Measles usually gets better with home care. You can take medicine to lower your fever, if needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Also, get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Stay away from other people as much as you can so that you don't spread the disease. Anyone who has measles should stay out of school, day care, work, and public places until at least 4 days after the rash first appeared.

Your doctor may suggest vitamin A supplements if your child has measles.

If you have been exposed to measles and you haven't had the vaccine, you may be able to prevent the infection by getting immunoglobulin (IG) or the measles vaccine as soon as possible. Babies who are younger than 12 months, pregnant people, and people who have impaired immune systems that can't fight infection may need to get IG if they are exposed to measles.

• Your child should stay at home to avoid contact with people who have never had measles and who have not been immunized. Measles is very contagious. Your child can spread measles to others from 4 days before the rash appears to 4 days after the rash appears.
• Have your child drink plenty of fluids.
• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest to help the body heal.
• Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain. Do not use ibuprofen if your child is less than 6 months old unless the doctor gave you instructions to use it. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.
• Do not give your child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• Try to keep your child from scratching the rash.
• Keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your house.
• Have your child rest their eyes often. If your child's eyes are sensitive to light, close the window blinds in the room, and limit the amount of time your child watches screens.