Measles overview
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Measles Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Measles overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Measles overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Measles is a disease caused by the Morbillivirus. It is transmitted into the respiratory by contact with infected fluids. Incubation lasts for 4-12 days, during which patients are asymptomatic. Symptomatic onset includes the appearance of a distinct rash. Infected people remain contagious until appearance of the first symptoms until 3-5 days after the rash appearance.
Transmission
Measles is spread through respiration (contact with fluids from an infected person's nose and mouth, either directly or through aerosol transmission), and is highly contagious—90% of people without immunity sharing a house with an infected person will catch it. Airborne precautions should be taken for all suspected cases of measles.
The incubation period usually lasts for 4–12 days (during which there are no symptoms).
Infected people remain contagious from the appearance of the first symptoms until 3–5 days after the rash appears.
German measles is an unrelated condition caused by the rubella virus.