eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Viral Infections

Measles, Rubeola: Follow-up

Author: Melissa Burnett, MD, Attending Physician, Clinical Instructor in Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, Cambridge Health Alliance and Massachusetts General Hospital
Coauthor(s): Paul Krusinski, MD, Director of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 18, 2007

Follow-up

Complications

  • The complications of measles are generally more common and more severe in developing countries. The most common fatal complication of measles is dehydration secondary to diarrhea. Other complications associated with measles include pneumonia, malnutrition, gangrenous stomatitis (noma), vitamin A deficiency (leading to corneal ulceration and blindness), and immunosuppression (increasing children's susceptibility to other diseases).
    • Acute complications include diarrhea, pneumonia, laryngotracheal bronchitis, otitis media, malnutrition, gangrenous stomatitis (noma), vitamin A deficiency (leading to corneal ulceration and blindness), and acute encephalitis.
    • Late complications include immunosuppression and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to report suspected cases of measles to local and/or state health departments is a pitfall. All suspected cases of measles should be reported to the local and/or state health departments, and a blood sample from the patient should be obtained for confirmatory testing for measles EIA-IgM antibodies.
  • Failure to report any adverse reactions to vaccination is a pitfall. Any adverse reactions to vaccination should be reported to the CDC. A Vaccine Adverse Event Report Form can be obtained by calling 1-800-822-7967.

Special Concerns

  • Complications in pregnancy include premature delivery, fetal loss, and increased risk of maternal death.
  • No apparent association exists between MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination and autism or other autistic disorders.
  • No well-established association exists between MMR vaccination and the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease.
 


More on Measles, Rubeola

Overview: Measles, Rubeola
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Measles, Rubeola
Treatment & Medication: Measles, Rubeola
Follow-up: Measles, Rubeola
References
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References

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  2. Fugier-Vivier I, Servet-Delprat C, Rivailler P, Rissoan MC, Liu YJ, Rabourdin-Combe C. Measles virus suppresses cell-mediated immunity by interfering with the survival and functions of dendritic and T cells. J Exp Med. Sep 15 1997;186(6):813-23. [Medline].

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology of measles--United States, 1998. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Sep 3 1999;48(34):749-53. [Medline]. [Full Text].

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  7. Dörig RE, Marcil A, Chopra A, Richardson CD. The human CD46 molecule is a receptor for measles virus (Edmonston strain). Cell. Oct 22 1993;75(2):295-305. [Medline].

  8. Feigen RD, Cherry JD, eds. Prevention of infectious diseases. In: Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1998:2742-44.

  9. Feigen RD, Cherry JD, eds. Measles. In: Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1992:1595.

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  11. Habif TP. Exanthems and drug eruptions. In: Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 1996:409-12.

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  15. Manchester M, Liszewski MK, Atkinson JP, Oldstone MB. Multiple isoforms of CD46 (membrane cofactor protein) serve as receptors for measles virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Mar 15 1994;91(6):2161-5. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

rubeola, morbilli, rubeola measles

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Melissa Burnett, MD, Attending Physician, Clinical Instructor in Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, Cambridge Health Alliance and Massachusetts General Hospital
Melissa Burnett, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Massachusetts Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Paul Krusinski, MD, Director of Dermatology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Fletcher Allen Health Care, University of Vermont
Paul Krusinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

James W Patterson, MD, Director of Dermatopathology, Professor of Pathology and Dermatology, Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, University of Virginia Medical Center
James W Patterson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, Medical Society of Virginia, Royal Society of Medicine, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Lester F Libow, MD, Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory
Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, International Society of Dermatology, Massachusetts Medical Society, New York Academy of Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE, Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other

 
 
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