SYMPTOMS

The symptoms may be considered as they occur in three stages; catarrhal, eruptive and convalescent. After infection no signs of illness appear for several days. This is the period of incubation. About eight to ten days after exposure, very fine, pin-point size spots appear on the lining of the cheek opposite the molar teeth. These are known as Koplik spots. They are bluish-white in color and seen only by bright daylight. About the same time catarrhal symptoms appear, such as a little fever, coryza, sneezing, hoarse cough, watery eyes. The symptoms as they occur in this catarrhal stage of measles are usually supposed to be due to a cold. After a further three, four or five days, i. e.—12 to 13 days after exposure—the typical eruption appears. It is first seen over the forehead at the border of the hair, behind the ears and on the neck. This gradually spreads during two or three days over the face, body and finally the arms and legs. The eruption occurs as small red spots or blotches, round or oval in form. They tend to become larger and finally run together, so that at the height of the eruption the skin of the face and body is completely covered, only small islands of pale skin appearing. The color of the eruption is deeper red than that of scarlet fever, and is much coarser. During the time the eruption is coming out the fever is often high and the catarrhal symptoms are marked. Light hurts the eyes, and they become bleary red, the secretions causing the lids to stick together during sleep. The cough is often very troublesome. At first it is dry and later looser. There is often hoarseness and sometimes the patient can talk only in a whisper. When the eruption has reached its height it soon begins to fade, but traces often remain for a week or more. As the eruption begins to fade the fever falls, often very rapidly. A fine branny scaling of the skin follows the fading of the eruption.