Measles Symptoms, Risks and Prevention
Below are common questions about measles, including how it spreads, what symptoms to look out for and how it can be prevented through vaccination.
- What should you know about measles?
- What are the symptoms of measles infection?
- What are the complications of measles?
- Who should be vaccinated against measles?
- Who should not get an MMR shot?
- Am I protected from measles?
- What if I don’t know if I had an MMR shot?
- How can measles be treated?
- What do I do if I am exposed to measles and am not immunized?
- What do I do if I think I have measles?
- Why are vaccines so important to prevent measles?
- Where can I learn more?
Frequently Asked Questions About Measles
What should you know about measles?
- Measles can make people very sick.
- The MMR shot is the best way to protect against measles.
- Measles is very contagious and spreads fast.
- Measles can live for two hours in the air in a room.
What are the symptoms of measles infection?
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash (the rash starts after the other symptoms)
What are the complications of measles?
Measles is a serious disease that can cause:
- Pneumonia
- Brain swelling and seizures
- Deafness and blindness
- Death
Who should be vaccinated against measles?
- Children need two MMR shots
- One at 12-15 months of age
- One at 4-6 years
- Adults need one MMR shot. Some adults need two MMR shots, including the following populations:
- College students
- Military recruits
- Health care workers
- Travelers to other countries
Who should not get an MMR shot?
- Children under 6 months old.
- Anyone with a weak immune system (your doctor will tell you this).
- Anyone who is pregnant.
- Anyone with a severe allergy to the MMR shot (this is very rare).
Am I protected from measles?
Here is what you need to be protected:
- You need two (2) measles vaccines, if you are:
- A school-aged child (grades K-12).
- An adult who will be in a high-risk setting (including college students, health care workers and international travelers).
- You need one (1) measles vaccine, if you are:
- A baby aged 6-11 months.
- A preschool-aged child.
- An adult who will not be in a high-risk setting for measles transmission.
- If you have had measles before, you are protected.
- If you have a lab test confirming that you are immune to measles, you are protected.
- If you were born before 1957, you are protected.
What if I don’t know if I had an MMR shot?
- You should get an MMR shot if you can’t find out if you had one. It is safe even if you already had the shots.
How can measles be treated?
- There is no treatment for measles.
- We can only treat the symptoms while hoping that you get better.
What do I do if I am exposed to measles and am not immunized?
- Call your doctor as soon as you find out.
- If you are able to seek medical care as soon as possible, you may be able to receive some protection.
What do I do if I think I have measles?
- Stay home.
- Stay in a room away from the people you live with.
- Do not go anywhere until five days after the rash appears.
- If you have trouble breathing or if you need to go to the hospital:
- Call first and tell them you think you have measles and are having a hard time breathing.
- Wear a mask when you arrive at the hospital.
- You might be told to enter through a certain door to keep other patients safe.
Why are vaccines so important to prevent measles?
- It works very well to protect you.
- It stops measles from spreading.
- It helps you protect the vulnerable people who can't get the shot.