- Measles is characterized by a skin rash.
- Measles is spread by airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by contact of the infected person’s bodily fluids.
- The incubation period ranges from 6-19 days with infected people being contagious two to four days before the rash appears and two to five days after it appears.
- Symptoms - Rash, fever for at least three days, coughing, runny nose, red watery eyes (conjunctivitis), sensitivity to light, and grayish bumps in the mouth (Koplik's spots)
- Treatment - There is usually no treatment for measles since most people recover naturally. Any secondary infections can be treated with antibiotics. Symptoms like fever and pain can be treated with ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- The measles vaccine is made from a live strain of the measles virus and is given in two doses. It is very effective, protecting 95-98% of patients after one dose, and 99% effective in those who receive both doses.
- Fatality rates are 3 deaths in 1000 in developed countries and can be as high as 28 percent in underdeveloped nations.
- It is believed that measles came from distemper, a disease that infects dogs.
The definition of measles is a highly contagious and dangerous disease which is caused by a virus, paramyxovirus.
Facts About Measles
An example of measles is an itchy red rash which starts at the ears.
- an acute, infectious, communicable disease caused by a paramyxovirus and characterized by small, red spots on the skin, high fever, nasal discharge, etc. and occurring most frequently in childhood; rubeola: often with the
- any of various similar but milder diseases; esp., rubella (German measles)
- a disease of cattle and hogs, caused by tapeworm larvae in the flesh
Origin of measlesMiddle English maseles, plural of masel, measle, spot (? influenced, influence by mesel, leper ; from Old French ; from Classical Latin misellus, wretch ; from miser, wretched), akin to Old High German m?sa, a spot, German masern, measles
noun(used with a sing. or pl. verb)
- a. An acute, contagious viral disease, usually occurring in childhood and characterized by eruption of red spots on the skin, fever, and catarrhal symptoms. Also called rubeola.b. Black measles.c. Any of several other diseases, especially German measles, that cause similar but milder symptoms.
- A condition of pork or beef caused by the presence of tapeworm larvae.
- A plant disease, usually caused by fungi, that produces small spots on leaves, stems, or fruit.
Origin of measlesMiddle English maseles, mesels, pl. of masel, measles-spot, of Middle Low German origin.
- Used with either singular or plural verb.
Plural of Middle English masel, probably from Middle Dutch masel (“blemish") and influenced by measle.