Measles

Measles is a highly contagious, viral illness, mostly occurring in preschool children. After contact with a case of measles in the previous two weeks, the child develops a high fever, lethargy, barking cough a streaming nose and runny eyes. Small white spots form within the mouth and then a rash develops. The rash consists of slightly raised red spots which merge. It spreads from the hairline downwards over the face and body in 3 days.
Whilst it is a severe disease, in the majority of cases children with measles recover fully. However complications may occur with measles. One is 1000 cases develop an infection of the brain; of these, almost half(40%) have a permanent brain damage or die. Very occasionally, the measles virus produces a slowly degenerative disease of the brain, ending in death long after the infection (even years later). Other complications include pneumonia, problems with the digestive tract and heart failure, all of which may be fatal.

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