Measles, also called rubella, is best known for its typical skin rash.  It is, however, primarily a respiratory infection.  The first symptoms are irritability, runny nose, eyes that are red and sensitive to light, hacking cough, and a fever as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fever peaks with the appearance of the rash, which typically begins on the forehead, then spreads downward over the face, neck, and body.  The child is particularly ill-looking during the first days of the rash.  It usually takes about 3 days for the rash to make its way down to the feet.  Once the rash appears on the legs and feet, symptoms usually subside within 2 days.

The rash looks like large red to brown blotches that often flow into one another to completely cover the skin, especially on the face and shoulders.  One special identifying sign of measles is Koplik's spots.  These are small, irregularly-shaped spots usually appearing 1 to 2 days before the measles rash and may be noticed by a doctor looking for the cause of a child's fever and cough.

Measles can lead to many different complications: croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and encephalitis.  Measles can also make the body more susceptible to ear infections or pneumonias caused by bacteria.

Every $1.00 raised by the E.H.D. Youth-In-Action vaccinates 1 child in Africa against measles.

We hope you will join us this year in our efforts to help reduce the number of deaths from measles by donating to this worthwhile project.

Thank you for your support!