Rubeola

Alternative names:

hard measles; measles; nine day measles; red measles

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment of measles. Symptomatic relief may be achieved from bed rest, acetaminophen - oral, and humidified air.

Expectations (prognosis):

The probable outcome is excellent in uncomplicated cases. The probable outcome is worse with complicating encephalitis.

Complications:

A bacterial infection may cause otitis media, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Encephalitis occurs in approximately 1 out of 3,000 measles cases. Hemorrhagic measles is a rare complication and causes generalized bleeding.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if earache, productive cough, or severe lethargy develop in a person with measles; or if symptoms do not begin to improve within 1 week.

Emergency symptoms (rare) include convulsions and generalized bleeding.