Measles facts for kids
Measles is an infectious disease, caused by a virus. People catch measles from other people. It is passed on in tiny drops of water when people breathe. People with measles have a sore throat, a fever, a cough, red eyes and a runny nose. They also have a bumpy red rash all over their body. These rashes will cause a high irritation of itching.
Measles is very infectious, which means it is easy to catch. If someone in a house has measles, it is very likely that other people in the house will also get it. In developed countries, lots of children have a vaccination (injection) to stop them from getting measles. Often they are given the MMR vaccine, to stop them getting measles, mumps and rubella. The three vaccinations are all in one injection.
Measles is sometimes also called rubeola, but it is not the same as rubella (German measles). The German Measles (rubella) was discovered by German scientists.
There is no cure for measles. People with measles may rest and take medicines to make them feel better, to stop pain and make fevers go away.
Images for kids
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An electron micrograph of the measles virus
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Drawing of the measles virus attaching to the lining of the trachea
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Incidence of and deaths due to measles in England and Wales between 1940 and 2017
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Measles cases in the US from 1938 to 2019
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16th-century Aztec drawing of someone with measles
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Maurice Hilleman's measles vaccine is estimated to prevent one million deaths per year.
See also
In Spanish: Sarampión para niños
