Measles

A childhood viral illness causing a widespread red rash and fever considered to be the most contagious disease in the world. Widespread epidemics caused a great number of deaths in the Middle Ages.

Measles virus is a member of the genus Morbillivirus of the Paramyxoviridae family. The virus appears to be antigenically stable - there is no evidence that the viral antigens have significantly changed over time.

The medical name for measles is rubeola, It is sometimes called ‘red measles’ to distinguish it from the much milder disease known as rubella.

The measles virus is passed from person to person, like many other viruses, on the tiny droplets of moisture that people constantly breathe out and in.

Symptoms appear after an incubation period of between nine to 11 days, and the patient is infectious from shortly after the beginning of this period until up to a week after symptoms have developed.

The patient develops what appears to be a heavy cold with a husky cough. The nose is runny and the eyes are red and watery. They may a fine, red rash that last for a few hours then disappears.

The second stage of the infection starts after 12-13 days with a reddening of the palate and the mucous membrane of the cheeks. Two to three days later the typical maculopapular rash develops, starting behind the ears spreading over the whole body.
Measles