Signs and Symptoms
Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.
7 – 14 days after a measles infection: first symptoms show
Measles isn’t just a little rash. Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. Measles typically begins with
- high fever (may spike to more than 104°),
- cough,
- runny nose (coryza), and
- red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
Measles is serious
Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children.
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you think you or your child have been exposed to measles.
Complications of Measles
2-3 days after symptoms begin: Koplik spots
Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin.
3-5 days after symptoms begin: measles rash
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
- Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
- The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
- When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.
