Highlights & Basics
- Measles is preventable by immunization but high levels of coverage are required to prevent outbreaks of disease from occurring.
- No specific treatment for measles is available except for supportive care.
- Complications of measles are more common in immunocompromised and poorly nourished individuals and include pneumonia, laryngotracheitis, otitis media, and encephalitis.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Citations
McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.[Abstract][Full Text]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child and adolescent immunization schedule: recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2024. Nov 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
UK Health Security Agency. Measles: the green book, chapter 21. Dec 2019 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult immunization schedule: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2024. Nov 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Measles. In Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, et al, eds. Red Book: 2021 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 32nd ed. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2021.[Full Text]
1. Cherry JD, Lugo D. Measles virus. In: Feigin and Cherry JD, Demmler-Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, et al, eds. Feigin and Cherry's textbook of pediatric infectious diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:1754-70
2. Measles vaccines: WHO position paper - April 2017. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2017 Apr 28;92(17):205-27.[Abstract][Full Text]
3. Gastanaduy P, Haber P, Rota PA, et al. Measles. In: Hall E, Wodi AP, Hamborsky J, et al, eds. CDC Pink Book 2021: Epidemiology and vaccine-preventable diseases. 14th ed. Washington, D.C. Public Health Foundation, 2021[Full Text]
4. Patel MK, Goodson JL, Alexander JP Jr, et al. Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination - Worldwide, 2000-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Nov 13;69(45):1700-1705.[Abstract][Full Text]
5. Minta AA, Ferrari M, Antoni S, et al. Progress toward regional measles elimination - worldwide, 2000-2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Nov 25;71(47):1489-95.[Abstract][Full Text]
6. Kaur G, Danovaro-Holliday MC, Mwinnyaa G, et al. Routine vaccination coverage - worldwide, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023 Oct 27;72(43):1155-61.[Abstract][Full Text]
7. Oskolkova MK, Kolosova OS. [Circadian structure of the rhythm of cardiac activity and its regulatory characteristics in children in the active phase of rheumatism]. [in rus]. Pediatriia. 1986 Oct;(10):78.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles cases and outbreaks. Mar 2024 [internet publication].[Full Text]
9. World Health Organization. Europe observes a 4-fold increase in measles cases in 2017 compared to previous year. February 2018 [internet publication]. [Full Text]
10. World Health Organization. Measles in Europe: record number of both sick and immunized. February 2019 [internet publication].[Full Text]
11. World Health Organization. European Region loses ground in effort to eliminate measles. Aug 2019 [internet publication.[Full Text]
12. World Health Organization. A 30-fold rise of measles cases in 2023 in the WHO European region warrants urgent action. Dec 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
13. Hübschen JM, Gouandjika-Vasilache I, Dina J. Measles. Lancet. 2022 Feb 12;399(10325):678-90.[Abstract][Full Text]
14. McLean HQ, Fiebelkorn AP, Temte JL, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and mumps, 2013: summary recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013 Jun 14;62(RR-04):1-34.[Abstract][Full Text]
15. Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Marchione P, et al. Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Nov 22;11:CD004407.[Abstract][Full Text]
16. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child and adolescent immunization schedule: recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2024. Nov 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
17. Krow-Lucal E, Marin M, Shepersky L, et al. Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (PRIORIX): recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Nov 18;71(46):1465-70.[Abstract][Full Text]
18. UK Health Security Agency. Measles: the green book, chapter 21. Dec 2019 [internet publication].[Full Text]
19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult immunization schedule: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2024. Nov 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
20. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel. Section 5: travel-associated infections and diseases - Rubeola / Measles. May 2023 [internet publication]. [Full Text]
21. Hyle EP, Rao SR, Jentes ES, et al. Missed opportunities for measles, mumps, rubella vaccination among departing U.S. adult travelers receiving pretravel health consultations. Ann Intern Med. 2017 Jul 18;167(2):77-84.[Abstract]
22. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Measles. In Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, et al, eds. Red Book: 2021 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 32nd ed. Itasca, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2021.[Full Text]
23. Hambidge SJ, Newcomer SR, Narwaney KJ, et al. Timely versus delayed early childhood vaccination and seizures. Pediatrics. 2014 Jun;133(6):e1492-9.[Abstract][Full Text]
24. Klein NP, Lewis E, Fireman B, et al. Safety of measles-containing vaccines in 1-year-old children. Pediatrics. 2015 Feb;135(2):e321-9. [Abstract][Full Text]
25. Scott P, Moss WJ, Gilani Z, et al. Measles vaccination in HIV-infected children: systematic review and meta-analysis of safety and immunogenicity. J Infect Dis. 2011 Jul;204 Suppl 1:S164-78.[Abstract][Full Text]
26. US Department of Health and Human Services. Panel on opportunistic infections in children with and exposed to HIV. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in children with and exposed to HIV. Oct 2019 [internet publication].[Full Text]
27. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. General best practice guidelines for immunization. Aug 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
28. Hviid A, Hansen JV, Frisch M, et al. Measles, mumps, rubella vaccination and autism: A nationwide cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2019 Apr 16;170(8):513-20.[Abstract][Full Text]
29. Maglione MA, Das L, Raaen L, et al. Safety of vaccines used for routine immunization of U.S. children: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2014 Aug;134(2):325-37.[Abstract][Full Text]
30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles / Rubeola: 2013 case definition. 2013 [internet publication].[Full Text]
31. Helfand RF, Heath JL, Anderson LF, et al. Diagnosis of measles with an IgM capture EIA: the optimal timing of specimen collection after rash onset. J Infect Dis. 1997 Jan;175(1):195-9.[Abstract]
32. Ratnam S, Tipples G, Head C, et al. Performance of indirect immunoglobulin M (IgM) serology tests and IgM capture assays for laboratory diagnosis of measles. J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Jan;38(1):99-104.[Abstract][Full Text]
33. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specimen collection, storage, and shipment. Feb 2022 [internet publication]. [Full Text]
34. Miller JM, Binnicker MJ, Campbell S, et al. A guide to utilization of the microbiology laboratory for diagnosis of infectious diseases: 2018 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Society for Microbiology. Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Aug 31;67(6):e1-e94.[Abstract][Full Text]
35. Prymula R, Siegrist CA, Chlibek R, et al. Effect of prophylactic paracetamol administration at time of vaccination on febrile reactions and antibody responses in children: two open-label, randomised controlled trials. Lancet. Lancet. 2009 Oct 17;374(9698):1339-50. [Abstract]
36. Chen RT, Clark TA, Halperin SA. The yin and yang of paracetamol and paediatric immunisations. Lancet. 2009 Oct 17;374(9698):1305-6.[Abstract]
37. Imdad A, Mayo-Wilson E, Haykal MR, et al. Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Mar 16;3(3):CD008524.[Abstract][Full Text]
38. Hussey GD, Klein M. A randomized, controlled trial of vitamin A in children with severe measles. N Engl J Med. 1990 Jul 19;323(3):160-4.[Abstract]
39. Yang HM, Mao M, Wan C. Vitamin A for treating measles in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;(4):CD001479.[Abstract][Full Text]
40. Banks G, Fernandez H. Clinical use of ribavirin in measles: a summarized review. In Smith RA, Knight V, Smith JAD, eds. Clinical applications of ribavirin. New York, NY: Academic Press; 1984:203-9.
41. Ross LA, Kim KS, Mason WH, et al. Successful treatment of disseminated measles in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: consideration of antiviral and passive immunotherapy. Am J Med. 1990 Mar;88(3):313-4.[Abstract]
42. Chen S, Wu T, Kong X, et al. Chinese medicinal herbs for measles. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(11):CD005531.[Abstract][Full Text]
43. Public Health Agency of Canada. Canadian immunization guide part 4 - active vaccines: measles vaccine. Sep 2020 [internet publication],[Full Text]
44. World Health Organization. Guide for clinical case management and infection prevention and control during a measles outbreak. 2020 [internet publication].[Full Text]
45. Gadroen K, Dodd CN, Masclee GMC, et al. Impact and longevity of measles-associated immune suppression: a matched cohort study using data from the THIN general practice database in the UK. BMJ Open. 2018 Nov 8;8(11):e021465.[Abstract][Full Text]
46. Mina MJ, Kula T, Leng Y, et al. Measles virus infection diminishes preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens. Science. 2019 Nov 1;366(6465):599-606.[Abstract][Full Text]
Key Articles
Other Online Resources
Referenced Articles
Sign in to access our clinical decision support tools