Measles is a potentially serious viral disease that mainly affects children. The virus is spread by airborne droplets, and an infected person is contagious from when symptoms appear until about 4 days after the rash appears. Symptoms typically develop about 10 days after infection and include fever; coldlike symptoms, such as a cough, runny nose, and sneezing; painful, red, watery eyes; and small white spots inside the cheeks.
After a few days, a rash appears on the head and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Symptoms usually subside after a few days, although sometimes complications develop, such as ear or chest infections, seizures, or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which may lead to brain damage or may even be fatal. Treatment consists of medication and self-help measures to relieve symptoms, and treatment for any complications.
A vaccine against measles is available and is usually given combined with vaccines for two other common childhood diseases (mumps and rubella) in the MMR vaccine.

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