How to Diagnose Measles

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Measles is a highly contagious viral infection caused by exposure to a morbillivirus. Most common in the winter and spring, this it was once considered unavoidable in school-age children. After contracting the virus, most people have immunity for life. Today however, inoculations for measles have a 95-to-98-percent success rate. Combined with the followup booster that doctors currently recommend, and you are all but ensured a lifetime of immunity.

Steps

1. Call your doctor's office immediately if you think you or your child has the measles.
   • Although vaccinations have drastically decreased the number of cases of measles in the United States, there have been cases where the vaccination failed. People vaccinated before 1968, when an effective vaccination became commonplace, and people who didn't have the booster shot used today may still contract the virus.
   • Because measles is highly contagious, it is important that your doctor's office knows in advance that you suspect you have it. The doctor may advise you to enter through a separate entrance or to wear a mask into the office.
   • Although measles are not responsive to antibiotics and must be allowed to run their course, it is important that you have them diagnosed. Your doctor needs to monitor your symptoms and may need to treat secondary infections caused by the virus.
2. Familiarize yourself with measles symptoms.
   • Early symptoms of measles mimic that of a cold or flu virus. The first one to five days after the onset of symptoms, sufferers may experience red, puffy and swollen eyes, coughing, runny nose, headache, sore throat, and a overall feeling of malaise. Fever is also common
   • Two to three days after symptoms begin, small red spots with white centers develop on the inside of your cheeks.
   • Within a couple of days, a dark red rash appears. Usually starting on the face, and spreading down the chest and back, the rash eventually covers the entire body, including the arms, legs and feet.
3. Avoid exposing yourself to others if you suspect you have, or if your doctor has diagnosed, measles.
   • Put on a surgical mask and don't go out in public. Unfortunately, symptoms of measles don't usually show up until one to two weeks after infection; you may have already exposed many people before you knew you had it.
   • Stay away from other people for three to five days after the rash clears and other symptoms are gone. The virus may still be active in your system for a few days, in which case you could still pass it to others.

Tips

• Infants under eight months old have a reduced chance of contracting measles, because they were provided with some immunity from their mothers.
• Every child should receive the measles vaccination around the age of 15 months and get the booster shot.
• See your doctor if you were vaccinated for measles before 1968 or if you never received a booster vaccination. If you have not contracted measles yet, you may not be immune to it.

Warnings

• Although not common, complications from measles include ear infections, croup, pneumonia and inflammation on the brain.