How serious is measles in adults?
Measles can be serious. Children younger than 5 years of age and adults older than 20 years of age are more likely to suffer from complications. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis.
What are the first symptoms of measles in adults?
The initial symptoms of measles can include:
- a runny or blocked nose.
- sneezing.
- watery eyes.
- swollen eyelids.
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light.
- a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C (104F)
- small greyish-white spots in the mouth.
- aches and pains.
What does measles do to adults?
Measles can lead to life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Other complications associated with measles may include: ear infection. bronchitis.
What do measles in adults look like?
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. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
Can measles cause brain damage?
Normally, the measles virus does not cause brain damage. However, an abnormal immune response to measles or, possibly, certain mutant forms of the virus may cause severe illness and death. This response leads to brain inflammation (swelling and irritation) that may last for years.
What happens if measles is left untreated?
Measles is a highly contagious infection that causes a rash all over the body, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. If left untreated, the infection can lead to ear infections, pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death.
What organs are affected by measles?
As the blood travels around the body, it carries the virus to different body organs, including the liver, the skin, the central nervous system, and the spleen. In the skin, the measles virus causes inflammation in the capillaries.
What does German measles look like in adults?
The main symptom of rubella is a red or pink spotty rash. The rash takes 2 to 3 weeks to appear after getting rubella. The rash starts behind the ears and spreads to the head, neck, and body. The rash can be hard to see on dark skin, but might feel rough or bumpy.