Last reviewed: 28 Sep 2021
Last updated: 03 Jun 2021
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- potential exposure to measles
- unimmunised or vaccine failure
- fever
- cough
- coryza
- conjunctivitis
- Koplik's spots
- maculopapular rash
Risk factors
- exposure to measles virus
- no prior immunisation against measles
- failure to respond to measles vaccine
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- measles-specific IgM and IgG serology (ELISA)
Investigations to consider
- acute and convalescent sera for measles-specific IgG
- measles RNA detection by PCR
- antigen detection by fluorescent antibody or PCR techniques
- isolation of virus in tissue culture system
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
Contributors
Authors
Elizabeth Barnett, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston Medical Center
Boston
MA
Disclosures
EB has received research grant funding from Pfizer for COVID-19, RSV and pneumococcal vaccine studies. She has received royalties writing for UptoDate (evaluation of newly arrived immigrants) and AAP (parasitic disease treatment).
Peer reviewers
Linda Nield, MD, FAAP
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
West Virginia University School of Medicine
Morgantown
WV
Disclosures
LN is an author of a reference cited in this topic.
Aisha Sethi, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Residency Program Director
University of Chicago
Chicago
IL
Disclosures
AS declares that she has no competing interests.
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