Measles rash photos, common signs and tips to identify measles

Several measles outbreaks across the United States have been disgusting mostly unvaccinated people this year, including Texas, where state officials report the worst outbreak in almost 30 years.

Texas Department of Health Since late January, 124 outbreaks have been confirmed in the South Plains area. The epicenter of the outbreak is in Gaines County, with nearly 14% of children between kindergarten and 12th grade opting out of receiving at least one necessary vaccine. It is one of the highest exemption rates in the state.

At least three states have also reached outbreak conditions. In other words, we report three or more cases:

• New Mexicoconfirmed nine in Lee County, adjacent to Gaines County, Texas.
• Georgiareported at least three cases in Metro Atlanta.
• New Jerseyrecently confirmed one case in non-vaccinated individuals who traveled internationally, and two more closely related contacts.

Oklahoma Department of Health They also issued health advisors to doctors to litigate despite the state adjacent to Texas not confirming any incident.

Other states with cases include:

• Rhode Islandone confirmed cases of young, unvaccinated children traveling internationally.
• underwe will check one for adults who traveled abroad in January who were not vaccinated.
• CaliforniaAs of February 15th, there is one confirmed case.
• new york New York City has two cases, not out of state.

In all of 2024, there were 285 cases of measles in the US, According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within the first two months of 2025, the country is already approaching half of that number.

As measles cases continue to rise, you may wonder if it is safe – especially as they start with cold symptoms that mimic other viruses that are circulating this winter.

However, as cold symptoms progress, the clue that the disease differs from the common respiratory viruses is the classic red rash.

Therefore, if you have a fever and rash, you should know about the symptoms of measles and dermatitis.

What are the first signs of measles?

Measles is considered one of the most infectious diseases in the world, with around nine in 10 people who have not developed symptoms that have been immunized after exposure to infected individuals.

Measles has several stages of infection that occur over two to three weeks.

The duration of incubation, or between symptoms beginning with exposure to the disease, is usually 1-2 weeks. The symptoms then develop in stages and last for a total of about 10 days. Also, recovery progresses in stages.

The initial symptoms of measles last for 2-3 days, and are non-specific and mild, including:

• cough
• snot
• Watery eyes

In the next step, we look for:

• White spots on the cheeks known as coprick spots.
• Usually, a red rash is 3-5 days after the initial symptoms develop.
• High fever when rash begins to appear
• Muscle pain
• sore throat

The rash usually lasts for about a week. You know you are recovering:

• The rash gradually fades.
• The cough disappears.
• The skin peels.

Measles symptoms in adults and children

“There are similar patterns of symptoms in children and adults,” says Today.com., Dr. Linday Yancey, an infectious disease expert at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas.

However, some children, especially the most recent children under the age of five, are more likely to experience complications, such as ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, and brain life-threatening inflammation.

According to the CDC, about one in five measles is hospitalized.

What does measles rash look like??

Two to four days after fever, people develop classically red and spotted rashes, beginning on the face at the hairline and behind the ears, then spreading to the rest of the body.

This rash begins as a red spot within the cluster (which gives it a spotted red look), but eventually merges into one large rash in a few days. Some lesions may be flat, while others may feel more prominent. Spots often blanch early. This means that it turns pale or white when pressed, but as it progresses, it loses this characteristic.

The rash may appear differently depending on the skin tone, and may appear bright red on light skin, but on dark skin it appears brownish red or purple.

The rash usually lasts for less than a week, fading in the same order, leaving brown-colored areas (in light-skinned individuals, not dark skinned people), and then fine peeling of the skin in the most affected area Continue.

Babies and adults generally develop similar, manifested rashes associated with measles.

What disease can be mistaken for measles?

It is difficult to know that you have measles just by looking at the rash, as some diseases cause measles-like rashes.

In children, these are diseases that are often caused by viruses and bacteria.

• chicken pox
• Hand, foot, mouth disease
• Rosera
• rubella
• scarlet fever
• Mononucleosis
• Parvovirus

Adults often develop measles-like rashes due to drug rashes. These include:

• penicillin
• Sulfonamide
• nsaids
• Antiseizure drugs
• Allopurinol

Other diseases similar to measles include:

• Meningal obstructivenessPotentially fatal bacterial infections often affect young adults.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Feversevere tickborn infections in the southeastern US
• Kawasaki disease, an immune condition affecting children under the age of 5, often causes cardiac complications.
• Dengue fever, Chikungunya or Zika Virus, a mosquito-borne infection that causes fever after a recent international trip.

How do you know that you have measles?

The only way to diagnose illness is to use lab tests.

According to the CDC, providers usually order two tests.

The swab is sent to the lab and then passes through a machine looking for a copy of the virus. The accuracy of the diagnosis decreases the longer it takes someone to wait for a test.

In blood samples, this test looks for acute antibodies the body makes according to the disease, but the antibody is best detected within 3 days of the rash, so as soon as measles is suspected It is important to be tested.

How long does measles last?

Most people get better within 10-14 days. There is no treatment, so treatment is directed towards symptoms.

Symptoms generally begin to appear one to two weeks after exposure. So people often don't know when they first get infected.

After that, people develop mild, cold symptoms that last for 4 days, followed by a distinctive red rash that peaks within the next few days, gradually disappearing within 7-10 days.

People usually transmit for 8 days – 4 days before and 4 days after the rash.

When to contact your healthcare provider

As measles can lead to low birth weight, premature birth and fetal death, always a doctor if you think they are exposed or have a rash that looks like measles, especially if you are immunocompromised or pregnant You need to call.

Measles can also cause complications, so look for these warning signs before calling your healthcare professional.

• High fever – especially when the temperature is over 105 degrees Fahrenheit
• Signs of dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting
• Ear infections (ear infections are one of the most common complications)
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe headaches, confusion, or characteristically clumsy (as measles can cause encephalopathy called encephalitis)

Things you need to know about the measles vaccine

According to the CDC, the best way to protect yourself from measles is to get vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine. Previous studies have shown that vaccines are safe and There is no link to autismCDC will be added.

By injecting live, weakened forms of the virus into a person, the vaccine induces immunity (but does not cause illness) in people with a normal immune system.

However, immunocompromised people can get sick with vaccines depending on how weak their immune system is, so it's important to talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits before getting it. Not recommended for pregnant women.

One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective in preventing measles, while two doses are 97% effective.

Most people are considered immunized to measles if they receive two MMR doses or if they receive blood tests that show evidence of immunity, but some people who are fully immunized may have a time Measles can develop as protection declines over time.

Adults or adolescents who do not have evidence of immunity should receive at least one MMR, but some people at high risk of measles transmission may have a 28-day distant two-dose series, such as healthcare workers. Some people should receive it. Students planning to enroll in college or planning an international trip.

Schools in almost every state require a measles vaccine series before their child enters kindergarten, following the CDC. Children must be vaccinated at 12-15 months of age with the first dose of the MMR vaccine. After that, at age 4-6, you will be immune to kindergarten with a booster.

If I get vaccinated, can I get measles?

The CDC emphasizes that the vaccine is “very protective.” “One dose of the MMR vaccine provides 93% protection against measles, while two doses provide 97% protection,” the spokesman explains.

That said, if you're vaccinated, you're still able to get measles. For example, five cases in the Texas outbreak were in vaccinated people. However, it is important to note that infected people who have been vaccinated usually have milder symptoms.

How to know if you've been vaccinated against measles

If you're not sure if you're immune to measles, the CDC says there are three main ways to find it.

Lab Test: Seek a blood test to find antibodies to measles. If the test is positive, this means someone has been infected naturally in the past or has been vaccinated previously.

Year of birth: Adults born before 1957 are estimated to be naturally protected from measles (because they were infected as children).

Written Document: Adults at no high risk of exposure are considered immunity if they have at least one dose of MMR vaccine administered after at least one birthday. Adults need two recorded MMR vaccines for high exposure risk and school-age children to be presumed immunity.