Also called: Rubeola
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Measles
Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily from person to person. It causes a blotchy red rash. The rash often starts on the head and moves down the body. Other symptoms include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Feeling achy and run down
- Tiny white spots inside the mouth
Sometimes measles can lead to serious problems. There is no treatment for measles, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it.
"German measles", also known as rubella, is a completely different illness.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
It sits within Children and Teenagers, Infections and Skin, Hair and Nails.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Measles
201 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- MV-NIS Infected Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Treating Recurrent Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal or Fallopian Tube CancerMayo Clinic
- A Study on the Immune Response and Safety of an Investigational Combined Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Vaccine, When Administered as Intramuscular Injection to Healthy Children 15 Months to 6 Years of AgeGlaxoSmithKline
- A Vaccine (MV-s-NAP) for the Treatment of Patients With Invasive Metastatic Breast CancerMayo Clinic
- A Study on the Immune Response and Safety of an Investigational Chickenpox Vaccine and a Marketed Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine When Administered as Intramuscular Injection to Healthy Children 12 to 15 Months of AgeGlaxoSmithKline
- Is a Third Dose of MMRV Vaccine Beneficial for the Adult Population in Alberta?University of Alberta
- Risk Assessment of Community Spread of Multiple Endemic Infectious Diseases in a One Health PerspectiveInstitut Pasteur du Cambodge
Research already completed
- Investigation of Immune Amnesia Following Measles Infection in Select African RegionsNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
- Search for the Measles Vaccine Virus Excretion in Breast Milk of Breastfeeding Women After Postpartum Vaccination With MMRAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
- IDA (Immunothérapie de la Dermatite Atopique) Adult - Immunotherapy in Atopic DermatitisInstitut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
- Increasing Measles Vaccination Coverage Through Supplementation With an SQ-LNS Incentive in Children Aged 6-23 MonthsAlliance for International Medical Action
- Trial of Additional Measles Vaccine to Reduce Child Mortality. Burkina Faso.Bandim Health Project
- The Effect on Overall Mortality of a National Policy of Limiting Measles Vaccination to Children Below 12 Months of AgeBandim Health Project
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- About MeaslesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Measles (Rubeola)Nemours Foundation
- Questions about MeaslesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Symptoms
- Measles Symptoms and ComplicationsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Diagnosis and Tests
- Measles and Mumps TestsNational Library of Medicine
- Nasal SwabNational Library of Medicine
Prevention and Risk Factors
- How to Protect Your Children during a Measles OutbreakAmerican Academy of Pediatrics
- Vaccination Is the Best Protection against MeaslesFood and Drug Administration
Related Issues
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine SafetyCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- Plan for Travel: Measles (Rubeola)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Statistics and Research
- Measles Cases and OutbreaksCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- U.S. Measles TrackerJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: MeaslesNational Institutes of Health
Patient Handouts
- MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella): What You Need to KnowCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
- MMRV Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella): What You Need to KnowCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Measles. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Measles, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.