Measles can occur at any age

Children are often associated with measles, but adolescents and adults who lack immunity can also become infected and unwell.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection spread through the air. It commonly presents with fever, cough, a runny nose, red or watery eyes, followed by a widespread rash. The rash and fever pattern can support the assessment, but symptoms alone cannot confirm the diagnosis.

Very young children, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems may need especially careful clinical guidance after exposure or with suspected infection. Adults can also develop serious illness, so age should not be used to dismiss compatible symptoms.

Phone a clinic before attending if measles is possible. Advance notice allows staff to reduce exposure to babies, pregnant people, immunocompromised patients, and others in shared waiting areas. Avoid school, work, public transport, and close contact while awaiting instructions.

Tell the clinician when symptoms began, whether a rash has appeared, where exposure may have occurred, and which measles-containing vaccines you have received. Keep fluids available and use fever medicine only as directed for the person's age and health. Antibiotics do not treat the measles virus.

Seek urgent medical help for difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, severe drowsiness, confusion, a seizure, a stiff neck, inability to drink, markedly reduced urination, or signs of severe dehydration. A baby who is hard to wake, feeds poorly, or has breathing difficulty also needs urgent assessment.

Use emergency services for severe symptoms. Tell the call handler that measles is suspected so the receiving team can prepare appropriate infection-control arrangements.

Ask whether your vaccination record indicates protection, what to do after a known exposure, how long to avoid contact with others, and which changes should prompt reassessment. Pregnant or immunocompromised people should ask for individual advice promptly rather than attending without warning.