The symptoms of measles generally begin about seven to 14 days after exposure but can take as long as 21 days. The symptoms include:
- Cough
- Fever
- Rash
- Red, watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Tiny white spots with bluish-white mouth (Koplik spots)
A typical case of measles begins with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after the start of symptoms, a flat red rash appears on the face, usually at the hairline, and spreads downward to the chest and back. When the rash appears, the fever may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. After a few days, the fever usually subsides and the rash fades in the order it appeared.