Rubeola

Alternative names:

hard measles; measles; nine day measles; red measles

Definition:

A highly contagious viral illness characterized by a fever, cough, and spreading rash.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Rubeola, or measles, is caused by the paramyxovirus. The infection is spread by droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of an infected person. The incubation period is 7 to 14 days before symptoms generally appear. An immunity to the disease occurs after vaccination, after active infection, and passive immunity of an infant whose mother is immune lasts most of the first year of life. Before widespread immunization, measles was very common during childhood so that 90% of the population had been infected by age 20. Measles cases have dropped by 99% in the U.S. and Canada after widespread immunization. Only 9,600 cases were reported in the U.S. in 1991. Susceptible individuals are young infants as the maternal antibody decreases, and those who refuse immunization. Teenagers and young adults who have not received a second immunization are also susceptible.