From the Guidelines
Measles does have coryzal symptoms, which are common cold-like symptoms that occur during the prodromal phase of the infection. These symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, cough, and conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes) 1. The coryzal symptoms usually appear 7-14 days after exposure to the virus and precede the characteristic measles rash by about 2-4 days.
Key Characteristics of Coryzal Symptoms in Measles
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes) These symptoms occur because the measles virus initially infects the respiratory epithelium and conjunctiva before spreading throughout the body. During this prodromal phase, patients are highly contagious. Other accompanying symptoms include high fever (often >104°F/40°C), malaise, and small white spots inside the mouth called Koplik spots, which are pathognomonic for measles. The coryzal symptoms, combined with fever and subsequent rash, form the classic clinical presentation of measles infection 1.
From the Research
Measles Symptoms
- Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the measles virus, with symptoms including fever, maculopapular rash, and at least one of cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis 2, 3, 4.
- The illness typically begins with fever, runny nose, cough, and pathognomonic enanthem (Koplik spots) followed by a characteristic erythematous, maculopapular rash 3.
- Coryzal symptoms, such as runny nose, are a common manifestation of measles, often appearing in the early stages of the disease 2, 3, 4.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Laboratory diagnosis of measles relies on the detection of specific IgM antibodies in serum, dried blood spots, or oral fluid, or the detection of viral RNA in throat or nasopharyngeal swabs, urine, or oral fluid 2.
- Treatment of measles is mainly supportive, involving vitamin A supplementation, monitoring for and treatment of secondary bacterial infections with antibiotics, and rehydration in the case of severe diarrhea 2, 4.
- There is no specific antiviral therapy for the treatment of measles, and disease control largely depends on prevention through vaccination 2, 3, 4.