Symptoms usually show up 1 to 2 weeks after being exposed. 

Common signs include: 

• High fever 

• Cough 

• Runny nose 

• Red, watery eyes 

• Small white spots inside the mouth (called Koplik spots) 

• A red, blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads 

Most people recover, but measles can cause serious health problems, especially for young children and people with weak immune systems. These include: 

• Ear infections (can lead to hearing loss) 

• Diarrhea and dehydration 

• Pneumonia (a lung infection and a major cause of measles deaths) 

• Swelling of the brain (encephalitis), which can cause brain damage 

• Death, in severe cases 

Rarely, measles can lead to a deadly brain disease called SSPE, which shows up years later.