Measles: A Guide to Symptoms, Transmission and Prevention Tips
May 13, 2025 | Tags:
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases that spreads easily from person to person. While most people associate it with a simple rash, measles is more serious and can lead to life-threatening complications, especially in young childern.
Understanding this disease can help protect you from becoming sick and stop the spread to others.
What is measles?
Measles, also called Rubeola, is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus. While a rash is a telltale indicator, measles includes other symptoms that can lead to serious health complications.
Initial symptoms appear seven to 14 days after infection, causing flu-like symptoms such as:
- High fever (may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Runny nose
- A dry or bark-like cough
- Red or bloodshot eyes
Additional symptoms that can appear several days after the initial symptoms include:
- Koplik spots (tiny white spots inside the mouth)
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Muscle pain or headache
Measles symptoms typically last 10 to 14 days, barring any complications or long-term issues.
How contagious is measles?
As previously mentioned, measles is highly contagious. An infected person can spread measles before he or she knows they’re sick, from four days before symptoms emerge to four days after the rash first appears. If one person in a room of unvaccinated people has measles, nine out of 10 people in that room will become infected.
The spread of measles occurs through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes or talks. These droplets can linger in the air for up to two hours after the person has left and can also contaminate surfaces you touch.
Risk factors and complications
Measles can infect individuals in all age groups and poses serious health risks to everyone. However, some groups are at higher risk for severe complications, like:
- Children under 6 years old
- Adults older than 20 years old
- Pregnant women
- People with compromised or weakened immune systems
Because measles weakens the immune system, those at severe risk are extremely vulnerable and can experience mild to life-threatening complications, including:
- Severe diarrhea leading to dehydration
- Pneumonia
- Blindness
- Encephalitis (inflammation or swelling of the brain)
- Pregnancy complications
- Death
Seek immediate attention if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, neck stiffness, severe headache, confusion or sensitivity to light.
Talk with your healthcare provider about measles
There is currently no cure or specific treatment for measles. Health authorities worldwide, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize vaccination as the best way to protect yourself and prevent its spread.
To be fully protected, healthcare professionals recommend two doses of either the:
- MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella)
- MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, also known as chickenpox)
Most insurance plans cover these vaccinations but check your coverage to be sure. Contact your primary care provider (PCP) if you have questions about measles or the vaccines, are unsure of your vaccination status or need a booster, notice symptoms or suspect you’ve been exposed to measles. If you suspect your child has measles, contact your pediatrician immediately.
If you were born after 1957 and vaccinated before 1968, you may have received an inactivated measles vaccine or a measles vaccine of unknown type and need to be revaccinated. Consult your PCP if you are uncertain if you should be revaccinated.
“Talking with your PCP about you and your child’s vaccinations is a key factor in disease prevention,” said Corie, a Clinical Quality Improvement Manager at Medical Mutual. You can also view our comprehensive schedule of immunizations for children and adolescents.
Don’t have a PCP? Medical Mutual can help. Use the Find a Provider tool to find a PCP in your plan’s network or call the Customer Care number on your member ID card.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Measles (Rubeola) | Measles (Rubeola) | CDC
Mayo Clinic: Measles - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic: Measles: Rash, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
World Health Organization (WHO): Measles