What are the initial symptoms of Measles? Asking for a friend 😁
Early symptoms of measles usually appear about 7 to 14 days after exposure, and they typically include a high fever, a cough, a runny nose and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). Small white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots) can show up a day or two before the rash. The rash comes a few days later, usually starting on the face and moving down the body. Anyone who thinks they've been exposed, or who has these symptoms, should call a doctor or clinic ahead of the visit so they can be seen without sitting in a waiting room with others, and they should be told about the exposure. For your friend's own situation, a clinician is the right person to ask. Since this thread is about outbreak spread, that's also why early symptoms matter: people are infectious for about four days before the rash appears, so the illness can travel before anyone knows it's measles.
