About ten to fourteen days after exposure to the measles virus, people infected with measles will get a rash, high fever cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. The eye symptoms can develop into conjunctivitis (pink eye), a condition that causes swelling and redness of the eye, tearing, and sensitivity to light. The skin rash often takes the form of bright red spots that are distinct and separate from each other.
They may multiply so rapidly, however that they appear to be a solid red mass. The rash usually starts behind the ears and along the hairline and then quickly spreads to the rest of the face, moving downward to the rest of the body. In addition to this red rash, light spots resembling grains of salt may appear on the inside of the patient’s cheeks near the back of the mouth. Doctors call these Koplik’s spots. These typical measles symptoms last for one to two weeks.
Most people recover form measles within ten to fourteen days. After they are well again they are no longer contagious, which means they no longer infect other people with the disease. In addition, people who have had measles develop an immunity to it – they will never catch measles again, even if someone with the disease sneezes or coughs right in their face.
What are the symptoms of measles?
