What should you know about hard measles?

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection. It often begins with fever, cough, a runny nose and sore or red eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the face or hairline and spreads down the body. Swollen glands may occur, but symptoms can overlap with other infections. A severe presentation may involve marked drowsiness, poor drinking, breathing problems or complications affecting the lungs or brain. A rash alone cannot confirm measles, and recent travel, exposure and vaccination history help a clinician judge the possibility.

Call a GP or health service before attending in person so the team can reduce exposure to others. Stay home, avoid close contact with babies, pregnant people and anyone with reduced immunity, and cover coughs. Rest and take fluids; use fever medicine only as directed for the person’s age and health. Do not share towels, cups or utensils. Keep a record of the fever, rash onset, exposure, travel and MMR vaccination history. A GP consultation can help confirm the next step and advise on isolation.

Seek emergency help for breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, a seizure, severe drowsiness, confusion, stiff neck, dehydration or a child who cannot drink. Contact a clinician promptly for suspected measles, especially after exposure or travel, because the infection can spread before the rash is fully established. Do not wait for the rash to worsen before asking for advice.

Could these symptoms be measles or another infection? How long should we avoid close contact? Is catch-up MMR vaccination appropriate for household members?