Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola, iscommon disease caused byvirus ofgenus Morbillivirus.
Reportsmeasles go backat least 700 CE. In 1954,virus causingdisease was isolated,licensed vaccinespreventdisease became available1963.
Measlesspread through respiration (contactfluids from an infected person's nosemouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission),is highly contagious - 90%people without immunity sharinghousean infected person will catch it.
The incubation periodapproximately 10-12 days (during which thereno symptoms). The first symptomtypicallyfever, reaching up40 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit), withcoughrunny nose, red eyeshypersensitivitylight following soon after. Small, red, irregular spots withblue-white centre appear insidemouth, known as "Koplik's spots", andone ofprimary ways doctors diagnose measles beforecharacteristic large, red-brownish blotches that formrash most commonly associatedmeasles appear. The rashfever fades gradually over 710 days, withlast remnants ofrash usually gone by 14 days. Infected people remain contagious fromappearance offirst symptoms until about 4 days afterrash appears.
Complicationsmeaslesrelatively common, ranging from relatively commonless serious diarrhea,pneumoniaencephalitis. Complicationsusually more severe amongst infantsadults who catchvirus.
The fatality rate from measlesotherwise healthy peopledeveloped countrieslow: approximately 1 death per thousand cases. In underdeveloped nationshigh ratesmalnutritionpoor healthcare, fatality rates10 percentcommon. In immunocompromised patients,fatality rateapproximately 30 percent.
In developed countries, most childrenimmunised against measles soon after birth as part ofthree-part MMR vaccine (measles, mumps,rubella). Vaccination rates have been high enoughmake measles relatively uncommon. Evensingle case incollege dorm or similar settingoften met withlocal vaccination program,case any ofpeople exposednot already immune. In developing countries, measles remains common.
See also German measles.
