The rash consists of flat red or brown blotches, which can flow into each other. It lasts 4-7 days. There can also be diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Complications are quite common . Most of the complications are caused by secondary bacterial infections, which can be treated with antibiotics.
More serious problems involve the nervous system and are rarer.
It usually occurs years after the initial illness and is a slowly progressive brain infection. SSPE starts with intellectual impairment and deteriorates to seizures and eventually death. It is, however, very rare occurring in less than 1 in 100,000 cases of measles. Measles infection during pregnancy can result in the loss or early birth of the baby. Severe disease and complications are most likely in infants under 12 months, those with weakened immune systems, and the malnourished.