A viral infection that's serious for small children but is easily preventable by a vaccine.
The disease spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing.
Measles symptoms don't appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure. They include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash.
There's no treatment to get rid of an established measles infection, but over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A may help with symptoms.
Causes. Measles is caused by infection with the rubeola virus. The virus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. The disease is contagious for 4 days before the rash appears, and it continues to be contagious for about 4 to 5 days after