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Measles
Alternate Names : Rubeola
Definition Measles is a highly contagious viral illness characterized by a fever, cough, conjunctivitis (redness and irritation in membranes of the eyes), and spreading rash.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Measles is caused by a virus. The infection is spread by contact with droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an infected person. The incubation period is 8 to 12 days before symptoms generally appear.
Immunity to the disease occurs after vaccination or active infection.
Before widespread immunization, measles was so common during childhood that the majority of the population had been infected by age 20. Measles cases dropped over the last several decades to virtually none in the U.S. and Canada because of widespread immunization, but rates have crept up again recently.
Some parents are refusing to have their children vaccinated because of fears that the MMR vaccine, which protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, can cause autism.
Large studies of thousands of children have found no connection between this vaccine and the development of autism, however, lower vaccination rates can cause outbreaks of measles, mumps, and rubella -- which can be serious.
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• Definition
• Measles Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Measles Symptoms & Signs
• Measles Prevention
• Measles Diagnosis & Tests
• Measles Treatment
• Measles Prognosis
• Measles Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Bronchitis
• Conjunctivitis
• Ear Infection - Acute
• Encephalitis
• Pneumonia
Tests & Exams
• Serology
Other Topics
• Cough
• Eye Redness
• Fever
• Immune Response
• Itching
• Macule
• Muscle Aches
• Nasal Discharge
• Papule
• Rashes
• Sore Throat
• Symptomatic
• Vision - Light Sensitive
Review Date : 7/29/2002
Reviewed By : Adam Ratner, M.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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