Measles is a viral infection which commonly affects children and remains a significant cause of death among young children. Therefore, it is essential to spread awareness about the preventive and treatment measures for measles. The cause is rubeola virus.

The symptoms appear about 10-14 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- Dry cough
- Fever
- Inflammation of eyes
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Skin rashes
- Tiny white-coloured spots with bluish-white centres and red background (Koplik's spots) in the mouth

This infection occurs in the following sequence:
- Measles virus incubates in the body with no symptoms for the first 14 days.
- Mild signs like fever, sore throat, inflamed eyes and runny nose occurs.
- Red and slightly raised spots appear on the face and then on hands and body
- The infected person can spread the virus from 4 days before the rashes to 4 days after the appearance of rashes.

Yes. Vaccination is the best method to prevent measles. The measles vaccine is generally given as a combined vaccine for measles, mumps,and rubella vaccine. It is important to get the kids immunised as per the schedule to prevent infection.

It is a highly contagious disease affecting your respiratory system. It is estimated that about 90% of the non-immunised individuals may get infected when they come in contact with an infected individual. It spreads through the droplets from the nose, throat and mouth of the individual with measles.