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Measles
Measles (rubeola) treatment available online
In order to treat your measles, consult with one of our board-certified doctors online today to prescribe medications to help with measles symptoms. Get a new prescription to treat measles symptoms or set up an appointment to get the measles vaccine today.*
Book an appointment
Medication services available for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
Insurance accepted, but not required
*PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of measles. Our primary care physicians can initially evaluate your symptoms, but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Book a measles consultation appointment.
Step 1
Book a measles consultation appointment.
Book a same-day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your medical provider regarding your measles concerns or symptoms.
Visit a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
If prescribed, pick up the prescription for treatment.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Measles treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To request measles treatment, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.
Paying with insurance
Membership
$16.99/month
First month free
Visits
Copay
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$16.99/month
First month free
Visits
$129
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Measles treatment FAQs
What is the best treatment for measles?
There is no specific treatment or medication for measles because it is caused by a virus and not bacteria. Therefore, the measles vaccines are the primary method of preventing measles.
For patients that have been diagnosed with measles, the primary treatment is to relieve symptoms of measles, with methods such as fever reduction and prevention of dehydration. The infected person should also be quarantined to try and prevent the spread.
How long did it take to develop the measles vaccine?
It took about 9 years from when the measles virus was first isolated to the release of the vaccine. The first measles vaccine became available in 1963. It was developed and licensed by John F. Enders and colleagues. They were first able to isolate the measles virus from an infected student during a measles outbreak in Boston, Massachusetts in 1954.
How do you get measles?
Measles is caused by a virus. This disease is highly contagious. You can easily contract measles via:
Close or direct contact with infected person
Exposure to vapor droplets of infected person
Touching objectives and surfaces that contain the virus
Is measles viral?
Yes, measles is caused by a virus that is highly contagious and can easily spread from person to person.
Is measles airborne?
Yes, the measles virus can become airborne. The virus can spread easily from one infected person to the next through the following: vapor droplets when a person sneezes or coughs, saliva, and drool.
Are measles and rubeola the same thing?
Measles is also known as rubeola. Measles a is highly contagious childhood respiratory disease caused by a virus.
Learn about measles (rubeola)
Measles is a highly contagious childhood respiratory disease caused by a virus.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to a highly effective measles vaccine program. However, it remains a common disease in many developing countries in Asia and Africa. According to the World Health Organization, due to the efficacy of the measles vaccine, there was a 73% reduction in measles deaths between 2000 to 2018 worldwide.
Measles is serious; the measles virus is highly contagious and spreads quickly. Unvaccinated young children and pregnant women are at risk of measles.
Measles causes
The measles infection is highly contagious. The measles virus can spread quickly from one infected person to the next through vapor droplets when a person sneezes or coughs, saliva, or drool. The measles virus can stay active on a surface for a few hours. This means you can easily contract measles via:
Close or direct contact with an infected person
Exposure to vapor droplets of an infected person
Touching objectives and surfaces that contain the virus
Measles symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the following progression of symptoms of measles with time after exposure to the virus.
The first symptoms of measles usually involve the following:
High fever (can go over 104°)
Runny nose
Cough
Sore throat
Eyes that are red and watery (conjunctivitis)
Next, about 2 to 3 days after the symptoms of measles begin, tiny white spots (also known as Koplik spots) can appear. The Koplik spots usually appear inside the mouth.Next, a rash starts to break out about three to five days after symptoms of measles begin. The rash typically starts out as red spots on the face. The measles rash then spreads downwards to the rest of the body (neck to feet) from the face and hairline. As it spreads, the following characteristics can also be observed:
During the appearance of the rash, a fever can go over 104° Fahrenheit.
The small red spots start out flat but can develop raised bumps with time.
The spots (with raised bumps) may join together as they spread downwards to the rest of the body (neck to feet).
The measles rash typically lasts about seven days. Similar to how it starts and spreads, the rash typically starts to fade first from the face and downwards to the rest of the body, fading last from the feet.
How to treat measles
There is no specific treatment or medication for measles typically because it is caused by a virus and not bacteria. Therefore, the best way to prevent measles before contracting it is by getting the measles vaccine.
For patients diagnosed with measles, the primary treatment is to relieve symptoms, such as fever reduction and prevention of dehydration. The infected person should also be quarantined to try and prevent the spread.
At-home remedies
Since there are no specific antiviral treatments, there are some at-home remedies that can help provide relief:
Stay hydrated: Lots of fluids can be lost through sweating during a fever. Be sure to drink plenty of water, juice, and even electrolytes to replenish those lost to sweating.
Rest the eyes: As eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) is a symptom of measles, avoid exposure to bright lights.
Rest: Get plenty of rest and sleep to let the immune system effectively fight the infection.
Stay in touch with your doctor so that the doctor knows the progress of the measles.
Measles medication
There are no specific antiviral treatments for measles. The medication recommended or prescribed by your doctors is aimed at treating the symptoms of measles:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be prescribed only if bacterial infections such as ear infections or pneumonia develop during the course of the measles infection.
Fever reducers
To help bring down body temperatures (especially in young children), over-the-counter fever reducers can be taken. Common fever reducers are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, Children's Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol,) or naproxen (Aleve).
How to prevent measles
Measles vaccine
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles vaccines are the primary prevention method. Specifically, two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or one dose of the combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine are recommended for children. Specifically, children between 12 to 15 months of age typically get their first measles vaccine, followed by the second dose when they are between 4 to 6 years. Adolescents or adults receiving only one dose of the MMR vaccination are recommended to take the second dose.
Unvaccinated young children and pregnant women are at risk of measles. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, about 1 out of 20 children with measles also contract pneumonia.
If traveling to other countries, especially with known measles cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine for babies as young as 6 months old before traveling.
When to see a doctor for measles
If you or your child are experiencing symptoms or suspect you may have contracted measles, speak to a doctor immediately. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, about 1 in 5 people in the US who get measles will be hospitalized.
Doctors can usually diagnose measles through blood work.
Related conditions to measles
Measles can lead to severe complications and tend to affect people who belong to the following groups:
Pregnant women
Children less than 5 years of age
Adults older than 20 years of age
Patients who have weakened immune systems due to HIV infection or leukemia
Common complications of measles include:Ear infections: These can occur due to secondary infections.
More severe complications can come about due to weakened immune systems and include:Pneumonia: This is a severe lung infection. Pneumonia is the most common cause of death in children suffering from measles. 1 out of 20 children suffering from measles develops pneumonia.
Encephalitis: This is brain swelling that can cause convulsions and lead to intellectual disability.
Complications during pregnancy: Premature births or low birth weight newborns can occur if the pregnant woman is not vaccinated against measles.
Death: Measles can be fatal due to complications that develop.
Meningitis: Meningitis is when the meninges, a protective tissue of the brain is infected. If the infection is caused by a virus, it is called viral meningitis. Meningitis causes a stiff neck, fever, and headache. There is no treatment for viral meningitis. It will go away on its own.