In the last four years, all of the measles infections investigated by Seattle-King County Department of Public Health disease control staff were imported, or secondarily acquired from imported infections. The measles prodrome of cough, coryza and conjunctivitis generally begins 8 to 12 days after exposure. There is often a moderate fever. A generalized, red, maculopapular rash classically appears about 4 days after the onset of the prodrome, first on the face, then spreads to the rest of the body. Fever and rash typically last 4 to 7 days.
Total antibody rises rapidly during the first two weeks following rash onset.
Obtain a convalescent serum about two to three weeks later. If the illness is compatible with measles clinically, disease control efforts will be initiated before the diagnosis is confirmed by serology. Virus isolation from throat or urine specimens taken during the first few days of the rash is an additional means of diagnosis. For more information about measles diagnosis, call 296-4774. Systematic review of clinical efficacy of topical treatments for head lice.