Buzz
Begin by staying calm and avoiding panic. It’s highly unlikely that most readers of this article are dealing with measles. However, it’s still useful to understand the steps to take if you or your child happen to be that rare exception.
Recognize the typical early signs
While measles is often associated with its distinctive rash of small red spots, this rash typically appears only after other symptoms have been present for three to five days. According to the CDC, the most common initial symptoms include:
High fever (can rise above 104°F)
Coughing
Nasal congestion
Red, teary eyes
Prior to the skin rash developing, small white spots known as Koplik’s spots may appear inside the mouth. (These spots are a diagnostic aid for doctors, but searching for mouth rashes online isn’t the best approach if you suspect measles. Contact a healthcare professional instead.)
Symptoms typically emerge between 7 to 14 days after exposure. During this period, you might be unaware of the exposure but can become infectious days before symptoms become noticeable.
Geographical context is important
Measles is contracted through exposure. If you reside in an area experiencing a current measles outbreak, healthcare providers are more likely to consider a fever and rash as potential symptoms compared to regions with no reported cases nearby.
If no measles cases are reported in your vicinity, consider whether you’ve recently traveled to regions experiencing outbreaks. International travel to certain countries, such as those listed in the CDC’s current measles travel advisories—Israel, Ukraine, Japan, Brazil, and the Philippines—can also increase your risk.
Contact your doctor, but avoid in-person visits
Doctors aim to prevent measles exposure in waiting rooms due to its extreme contagiousness. The virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, posing a risk to anyone entering the space.
If you suspect measles, call your healthcare provider instead of visiting. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, reach out to an urgent care clinic or a telemedicine service. Stay home until you receive further guidance.
What role does the vaccine play?
If you’ve received the recommended measles vaccine doses, there’s a 97% likelihood of immunity (93% with just one dose instead of the advised two). This implies that a small percentage of vaccinated individuals may still contract the illness.
However, those who haven’t been vaccinated face nearly the opposite probability: 90% of unvaccinated individuals are likely to contract measles.
Unvaccinated individuals include children who are either too young for the vaccine or haven’t received it on schedule, as well as those with immune system conditions that prevent safe vaccination. These groups rely on the broader population’s vaccination rates to halt the spread of measles before it reaches them.
If you suspect measles exposure and develop symptoms like a fever, rash, or other telltale signs, contact your doctor immediately and prepare to isolate yourself. Failing to do so could risk spreading the infection to others.
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