As a medical professional, I can provide you with information on the early signs and symptoms of measles. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children. When it starts, the first signs are often quite nonspecific and can be easily mistaken for a common cold.

Here are the typical early symptoms of measles:


1. High fever: This is usually the first noticeable symptom, which can rise to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius).

2. Cough: A dry, hacking cough is common.

3. Runny nose: This is another early sign.

4. Red and watery eyes (conjunctivitis): This can be accompanied by sensitivity to light.

5. Koplik's spots: These are small white spots with blue-white centers that appear on the inner lining of the cheeks opposite the molars, usually a day or two after the other symptoms begin. They are a pathognomonic sign of measles.

After several days, a rash will develop. The rash typically begins as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. The red spots may become raised and joined together as the rash progresses.

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Koplik Spots. Mouth of a patient with Koplik spots, an early sign of measles infection. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.read more >>