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Measles Symptoms

By: Aeronx Mc Mall

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What is measles?
Measles is best known for creating a rash in childhood, but measles can change other parts of the body and sometimes occurs in adults. Vaccination has drastically lessened the number of causes in the world today, although isolated outbreaks continue to occur.
There are two types of measles, each caused by a different virus. Both may present a rash or a fever, however, they are in actuality two different diseases:
The Rubeola Virus
The rubeola virus creates "red measles", also known as "hard measles" or simply "measles." There are a few reported cases in which rubeola lead into pneumonia and even inflammation of the brain (encephalitis); these cases, however, are very rare.
The Rubella Virus
The rubella virus creates "German measles," also referred to as "three - day measles." Of course this is generally a milder disease than red measles. Though generally mild this virus may cause great birth defects if it is passed on from an infected pregnant woman to an unborn child.

What causes measles?
Both the rubella and rubeola viruses are spread through the respiratory route. Due to this they are easily spread though coughing and sneezing. It is even said that the rubeola virus is one of the most easily spread viruses present in the world today. As a result, it can be spread rapidly in a vulnerable population. Persons carrying this virus often pass on the virus without being aware of it as they travel with the virus within their respiratory tract.
In cases where the individual are immune to the virus either by having had measles in the past or via vaccination, they cannot get the disease caused by that virus. To clarify that is a person who had rubeola as a child cannot get the ailment again. Bare in mind, however, that rubeola and rubella are different viruses, therefore, a disease with one of them will not protect against a disease with the other.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Red Measles (Rubeola):
These symptoms usually show up about 10 - 14 days after the person becomes infected the rubeola virus. This period is often referred to the incubation period. During this period, the virus is multiplying. The rubeola symptoms tend to appear in two phases. The primary phase would begin with:
Fever
Cough
A "run - down" feeling
Red eyes (conjunctivitis)
Loss of appetite
Runny nose
In the second phase the red measles rash formulates from two to four days later. During this stage:
Originates on the face as small red bumps, spreading to the trunk and then to the arms and legs or koplik spots.
Rubella (German measles)
This virus is usually a milder disease with an incubation period of 10 days to 2 weeks. Some of the rubella symptoms include:
Tiredness
Swollen lymph nodes on the neck.
Light red rash from the face down the trunk.
Symptoms are at times so passive that you may not even notice them particularly if the infected person is a child.
These are just some of the common symptoms of the two viruses though there may be unique symptoms for different persons.

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