Measles (Rubeola)
Medical Author: Edmond Hooker, MD, DrPH
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
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What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can kill you. Although an uncommon disease in the United States of America, in 2006, measles killed 242,000 children worldwide. In most people, the disease produces fever (temperature > 101 F
[38.3 C]), a generalized rash that last greater than three days, cough, runny nose (coryza), and red eyes (conjunctivitis). The complications of measles that result in most deaths include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
What is rubeola?
Rubeola is the scientific name used for measles. It should not be confused with
rubella (German measles).
What is rubella?
Rubella is the scientific name used of German measles, a different viral illness. While German
measles is rarely fatal, it is dangerous in that it causes birth defects and can cause miscarriage and fetal death.
What are other names for measles?
Other terms have been used to describe measles. These include (erroneously) rubella, hard measles, red measles, seven-day measles, eight-day measles, nine-day measles,
10-day measles, and morbilli.
What is the history of measles?
Cases of measles were described as early as the seventh century. However, it was not until 1963 that researchers first developed a vaccine to prevent measles. Before the vaccine was made available, almost every child became infected with the virus because it is so easily spread. Before routine vaccination, there were approximately 3-4 million cases of measles and 500 deaths due to measles each year in the United States of America.
There were initially two types of vaccines developed against measles. One was developed from a virus that had been killed, and the other was developed using a live measles virus that was weakened (attenuated) and could no longer cause the disease. Unfortunately, the killed measles virus (KMV) vaccine was not effective in preventing people from getting the disease, and its use was discontinued in 1967. The live virus vaccine has been modified a number of times to make it safer (further attenuated) and today is extremely effective in preventing the disease. The currently used vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine.
Next: What causes measles? »
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