Measles

For a lay person:

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that starts with fever, cough, runny nose and sore red eyes, followed a few days later by a blotchy rash that spreads from the face down the body. It can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, ear infections and brain inflammation, and can be fatal, especially in young children and malnourished or immunocompromised people.

For a trained medical person:

Infection with measles virus (a morbillivirus) spread by airborne transmission, with a prodrome of fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis, Koplik spots, then a maculopapular rash; complications include pneumonia, otitis media, encephalitis, prolonged immune suppression and late subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Diagnosis is confirmed by PCR or measles IgM serology and cases are notifiable. Management is supportive, with vitamin A for children as recommended by the WHO, treatment of complications, isolation and post-exposure prophylaxis for contacts; prevention is by MMR vaccination.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Rash Period; Recovery Period. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Measles is vaccine-preventable and notifiable; phone ahead before attending a clinic with suspected measles so others are not exposed, and seek emergency care for breathing difficulty, drowsiness, seizures or dehydration. Measles needs medical treatment; Chinese medicine is adjunctive at most, and herbs should not be given to children without medical advice.