What is measles?

Also known as: rubeola.

Measles is a viral infection characterized by a fever, cough and a full-body rash. The pre-rash part of the illness can resemble most upper viral infections. The disease has become increasingly rare in the United States and worldwide thanks to widespread measles vaccinations but in the last 2 years there have been more cases described in the US than the previous years in children whose families have refused vaccination.

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Reviewed by: P. Marcelo Laufer, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM