Measles - symptoms, infection, progression and protection through vaccination
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection with potentially serious complications. Find out everything about symptoms, transmission, progression and the important vaccination here.
Things worth knowing about "Measles"
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection with potentially serious complications. Find out everything about symptoms, transmission, progression and the important vaccination here.
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus (morbillivirus). It is mainly transmitted by droplet infection, for example when coughing or sneezing, and contact with the aerosol containing the virus is enough to become infected. Measles is not just a childhood disease - unvaccinated adults can also become seriously ill.
Transmission and incubation periodThe measles virus is extremely contagious: around 90% of unvaccinated contacts become infected after contact with a sick person. The incubation period is typically 8 to 10 days, with contagiousness starting several days before the rash appears.
Symptoms and course
Measles progress in two phases:
1. prodromal phase:
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Fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis
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Sensitivity to light
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Typical: Copic spots (white spots on the buccal mucosa)
2nd exanthema phase:
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Skin rash (maculopapular, starts behind the ears and spreads over the body)
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Fever rise to over 40 °C
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General fatigue
After about a week, the rash subsides. However, the immune system remains weakened for several weeks, which increases the risk of secondary infections.
ComplicationsMeasles are not a harmless disease. Around 10-20% of cases progress with complications such as:
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Middle ear infection, bronchitis or pneumonia
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Masencephalitis (inflammation of the brain): occurs in approx. 1 in 1,000 cases, potentially fatal
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SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis): rare, but always fatal late complication
Protection through vaccination
The twin measles vaccination (MMR or MMRV) is considered the safest form of protection. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends:
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1st vaccination at the age of 11-14 months
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2nd vaccination at the age of 15-23 months
After two vaccinations, lifelong protection exists in over 95% of cases. Since March 2020, measles vaccination has been mandatory in Germany for children in daycare centres and schools as well as for employees in community facilities and medical professions
.Treatment
There is no specific antiviral therapy. Treatment is symptomatic:
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Fever reduction, sufficient fluid intake
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Shielding from light in case of conjunctivitis
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Medical monitoring in case of complications
Importance for public health
Measles are considered a potentially eliminable disease according to the WHO, as the virus has no animal reservoirs. The prerequisite is a vaccination rate of at least 95% in the population - this is still not achieved regionally in Germany, which is why there are regular local outbreaks.
Literature references:
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Robert Koch Institute (2023). "Measles - infection, vaccination recommendations, reporting system."
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WHO (2022). "Measles Factsheet."
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Moss, W. J. (2017). "Measles." Lancet.
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