Paediatrics

Measles

A highly contagious morbillivirus infection causing fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, Koplik spots and a cephalocaudal maculopapular rash, requiring immediate isolation and public-health action.

Definition

Measles is an acute, highly contagious infection caused by measles virus, a morbillivirus in the paramyxovirus family.

First principles

The prodrome is the diagnostic signal

Measles begins with fever and the three Cs: cough, coryza and conjunctivitis. Koplik spots may appear before the rash. The rash then starts on the face or behind the ears and spreads downwards, becoming more confluent.

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