Measles is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by a red skin rash. It is also called rubeola.

Measles was once a common infection in most children’s lives. A vaccine for measles has been widely available since 1963 and has greatly reduced the incidence of the disease. However, there are still millions of measles cases reported worldwide each year.

People who have not been vaccinated or have not had the disease are extremely likely to contract measles if they come into contact with it. Most cases that occur in the United States today are a result of unvaccinated people traveling internationally or among groups of people who have not been vaccinated and are exposed to the disease.

Measles is transmitted easily when infected people cough or sneeze and other people breathe infected air or touch infected surfaces. The first symptom usually experienced is a high fever, followed by a cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (pink eye). The rash that is characteristic of measles develops on the face and upper neck and then spreads to lower parts of the body, including the hands and feet.

Although otherwise healthy people who develop measles may become quite ill, most patients fully recover. However, patients can develop complications that can be serious and potentially fatal. These include ear infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).

Diagnosis is usually made during a physical examination. Measles can usually be diagnosed without medical tests, but sometimes a blood test is performed to verify a diagnosis.

There is no cure for the virus that causes measles, but symptoms can be treated with bed rest, fluids, over-the-counter pain relievers and other measures.

The best way to prevent measles is to receive the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children receive a dose of the vaccine between 12 to 15 months of age, followed by a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.