Measles

Measles is one of the most infectious viral diseases of childhood.

It causes a skin rash and sometimes serious complications can occur, such as pneumonia, croup or encephalitis.

The time between exposure and development of symptoms is 10 –12 days and the infection usually lasts about 7 days.

Measles starts with various symptoms such as a cold, fever, cough, conjunctivitis (red eye) and fatigue and these are followed 3 days later with a red blotchy rash, which starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. There may be some fine peeling of the skin after the rash fades.