What kind of illness is measles?
Measles
a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus.[3][9] Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days.[6][7] Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than 40°C (104.0°F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes.[3][4] Small white spots known as Koplik's spots may form inside the mouth two or three days after the start of symptoms.[4] A red, flat rash which usually starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body typically begins three to five days after the start of symptoms.[4] Common complications include diarrhea (in 8% of cases), middle ear infection (7%), and pneumonia (6%).[5] Less commonly seizures, blindness, or inflammation of the brain may occur.[6][5] Other names include morbilli, rubeola, red measles, and English measles.[1][2] Rubella, which is sometimes called German measles, and roseola are different diseases caused by unrelated viruses.[10]