What do measles look like on children

Immunocompromised people might not have the rash. Sometimes getting the measles, mumps, and rubella MMR vaccine within the first three days after being exposed to the virus can prevent the disease.

The best advice for people who are already sick is to rest and give the body time to recover. Stay comfortable by drinking plenty of fluids and taking acetaminophen Tylenol for fever. About 30 percent of people who get the measles develop complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea, and encephalitis, according to the CDC. Pneumonia and encephalitis are two severe complications that could require hospitalization. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes:.

People whose immune system has been weakened by another disease can get an even more dangerous form of pneumonia. About one out of every 1, children with measles will develop swelling of the brain called encephalitis , according to the CDC. Sometimes encephalitis starts right after the measles. In other cases, it takes months to emerge. Encephalitis can be very serious, leading to convulsions, deafness, and mental retardation in children.

Rubeola measles is often confused with roseola and rubella German measles , but these three conditions are different. Measles produces a splotchy reddish rash that spreads from head to foot. Roseola is a condition that affects infants and toddlers. It causes a rash to form on the trunk, which spreads to the upper arms and neck and fades within days.

Rubella is a viral disease with symptoms including a rash and fever that last two to three days. Symptoms of the measles often disappear in the same order in which they first emerged.

After a few days, the rash should start to fade. It may leave behind a brownish color on the skin, as well as some peeling. The fever and other measles symptoms will recede and you — or your child should begin to feel better. German measles, also known as rubella, is a viral infection.

Learn about German measles symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Roseola is viral infection commonly seen in children. Close Skin sloughing off of a child healing from measles infection. Close Skin of a patient after three days with measles rash. Close Face of child with measles. Close Child with a classic measles rash after four days. Koplik spots. Measles virus under a microscope. Close 3D graphical representation of a spherical-shaped, measles virus particle that is studded with glycoprotein tubercles.

Close The measles virus is a paramyxovirus, of the genus Morbillivirus. Close Histopathology of measles pneumonia, Giant cell with intracytoplasmic inclusions. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. A day or two before the rash appears, many people with measles develop small greyish-white spots in their mouth.

Not everyone with measles has these spots, but if someone has them in addition to the other symptoms listed above or a rash, it's highly likely they have the condition. The measles rash appears around 2 to 4 days after the initial symptoms and normally fades after about a week. Contact a GP as soon as possible if you suspect that you or your child has measles, even if you're not completely sure.