Complications

Most people will recover from measles after around 7 to 10 days, but sometimes it can lead to serious complications.

Who's most at risk?

Complications of measles are more likely to develop in certain groups of people.

These include:

babies younger than 1 year old
children with a poor diet
children with a weakened immune system (such as those with leukaemia)
teenagers and adults

Children who are older than 1 year and otherwise healthy have the lowest risk of developing complications.

Common complications

More common complications of measles include:

diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration
middle ear infection (otitis media), which can cause earache
eye infection (conjunctivitis)
inflammation of the voice box (laryngitis)
infections of the airways and lungs (such as pneumonia, bronchitis and croup)
fits caused by a fever (febrile seizures)

Uncommon complications

Less common complications of measles include:

liver infection (hepatitis)
misalignment of the eyes (squint) if the virus affects the nerves and muscles of the eye
infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) or infection of the brain itself (encephalitis)

Rare complications

In rare cases, measles can lead to:

serious eye disorders, such as an infection of the optic nerve, the nerve that transmits information from the eye to the brain (this is known as optic neuritis and can lead to vision loss)
heart and nervous system problems
a fatal brain complication known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which can occur several years after measles (this is very rare, occurring in only 1 in every 25,000 cases)

Measles in pregnancy

If you're not immune to measles and become infected while you're pregnant, there's a risk of:

miscarriage or stillbirth
your baby being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)
your baby having a low birthweight

If you're pregnant and think you have come into contact with someone with measles and you know you're not immune, you should see a GP as soon as possible.

They can advise you about treatment to reduce your risk of developing the condition.

When to seek immediate medical advice

Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department or call 999 for an ambulance if you or your child have measles and develop:

shortness of breath
a sharp chest pain that feels worse with breathing
coughing up blood
drowsiness
confusion
fits (convulsions)

These symptoms may be a sign of a serious bacterial infection, requiring admission to hospital and treatment with antibiotics.

Page last reviewed: Sat Aug 2021 Next review due: Wed Feb 2020