Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious respiratory infection. In fact, 90% of people exposed to measles will develop the disease, unless they are immune. Measles is caused by a virus and can be a serious or even fatal illness for young children.
Signs and SymptomsMeasles is associated with the following signs and symptoms:
What Causes It?Measles is caused by a virus (paramyxovirus) that is spread through the air or by contact with infectious droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat. You can contract the disease just by being in the same room as an infected person. Most people get measles because they were never immunized. Once someone has measles, they are immune for life.
Who is Most At Risk?People with the following conditions or characteristics are at risk for developing measles:
What to Expect at Your Provider's OfficeAnyone with a fever and unexplained rash should see a health care provider. Your health care provider will do a physical examination, checking for Koplik spots or the rash that usually appears several days after the spots have disappeared. To help confirm the diagnosis, your provider may order a blood test to detect the presence of antibodies against the measles virus.
Treatment Options
PreventionVaccination is the key to preventing measles. Health care staff administer the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) or the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) vaccine in two doses, one at age 12 to 15 months, and the second at age 4 to 6 years. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in protecting against measles.
Treatment PlanRest, drinking plenty of fluids, and treatment to relieve symptoms are adequate if there are no complications.
Drug TherapiesThe following medications may be used to manage measles:
Complementary and Alternative TherapiesNutrition and SupplementsFollowing a healthy diet is important for overall good health:
You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:
HerbsHerbs may help strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider before starting treatment. Most herbs are not suitable for pregnant or nursing women unless prescribed by a specialist. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, or teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted. The herbs listed below are to help support immunity while providing antibacterial and antiviral support. DO NOT give herbs to children unless prescribed by their physician.
To reduce itching from the rash, try using witch hazel (Hamamelis virginia) topically or add oatmeal to a bath. Test on a small patch of skin before using more widely. HomeopathyAccording to the National Institutes of Health, there is little evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any specific health condition. Also, while most homeopathic remedies contain small amounts of the active ingredient, they may still have side effects and drug interactions. So if you choose a homeopathic product on your own, it’s best to talk with your health care provider before you use it to check for possible side effects or drug interactions. If you decide to work with a homeopath, choose someone with training and experience and discuss any potential treatments carefully. A professional homeopath may recommend one or more treatments for measles based on his or her knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person's constitutional type, which includes your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.
Prognosis/Possible ComplicationsMeasles is most often an uncomplicated childhood illness. The most common complication of measles in children is acute otitis media, which occurs in 7 to 9% of cases. However, infants and adults, especially those who are malnourished or whose immune system is weak, may develop complications that involve the respiratory system, central nervous system, or digestive system, and may need to be hospitalized. In a small percentage of cases, measles can be fatal. Measles in a pregnant woman can result in premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or low birth weight babies. Infants of mothers with active measles should receive immune globulin at birth. Pregnant women should not be vaccinated.
Supporting ResearchAmerican Academy of Pediatrics website. Fact checked: budesonide and clarithromycin: unproven and risky. www.aap.org/en/news-room/fact-checked/fact-checked-budesonide-and-clarithromycin-unproven-and-risky. Updated April 10. 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. American Academy of Pediatrics website. Measles frequently asked questions. www.aap.org/en/patient-care/measles/measles-frequently-asked-questions/. Updated April 28, 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. American Medical Association website. Public health: measles resources. www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/measles-resources. Updated May 5, 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. Bose Mazumdar Ghosh A, Banerjee A, Chattopadhyay S. An insight into the potent medicinal plant Phyllanthus amarus Schum. and Thonn. Nucleus (Calcutta). 2022;65(3):437-472. PMID: 36407559 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9660160/. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases. www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-13-measles.html. Updated April 24, 2024. Accessed May 8, 2025. Gans HA. Measles. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 293. Gershon AA. Measles virus (rubeola). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 160. James WD. Viral diseases. In: James W, ed. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026: chap 14. Michaels MG, Williams JV. Infectious diseases. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 13. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Homeopathy: What you need to know. www.nccih.nih.gov/health/homeopathy. Updated April 2021. Accessed May 29, 2025. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases website. Measles. www.nfid.org/infectious-disease/measles/. Updated May 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. Noori N, Skrip LA, Oron AP. Potential impacts of mass nutritional supplementation on measles dynamics: a simulation study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022;107(4):863-872. PMID: 36096407 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9651531/. Ottolini MG. Measles. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 338. Prananda AT, Dalimunthe A, Harahap U, Simanjuntak Y, Peronika E, Karosekali NE, Hasibuan PAZ, Syahputra RA, Situmorang PC, Nurkolis F. Phyllanthus emblica: a comprehensive review of its phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Oct 26;14:1288618. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1288618. PMID: 37954853 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37954853/. Proctor C, Megli C. Maternal and perinatal viral infection in pregnancy. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 57. Sun J, Dong S, Li J, Zhao H. A comprehensive review on the effects of green tea and its components on the immune function. Food Science and Human Wellness. 2022;11(5):1143-1155. US Department of Health and Human Services. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website. Cat's claw. www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cats-claw. Updated November 2024. Accessed May 13, 2025. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd ed. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011:chap 9.
Review Date:
4/7/2025 Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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