Measles (Rubeola): Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

Plenty of rest at home is usually the best treatment for measles.

If you have measles:

• Drink plenty of fluids. If you have a fever and are not drinking enough liquids, you can become dehydrated.
• Take medicines you can buy without a prescription that relieve pain and reduce fever, such as ibuprofen and similar drugs (for example, Advil, Motrin, Aleve) or acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol). Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of its link to a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
• Rest your eyes often. If your eyes are sensitive, close the window blinds in your room and limit the amount of time you watch television.
• Avoid contact with people who have never had measles and who have not been immunized. You can spread measles to others from 4 days before the rash breaks out to 4 days after the rash appeared.

If your child has measles, keep him or her out of school until at least 4 days after the rash appeared. Keep your child out longer if he or she is not feeling well.

Call your doctor if your child:

• Becomes confused or is difficult to wake up.
• Has a fever for more than 10 days. If your child still has a fever after the third or fourth day of the rash, he or she may need to be evaluated for signs of complications, such as ear infection, strep throat, or pneumonia.
• Has diarrhea that lasts longer than 2 weeks or has any signs of dehydration.
• Has severe headaches or a stiff and sore neck.
• Seems to feel better, but the symptoms return later.

If you or your child has measles and has not seen a doctor, call your local health department. The health department needs to record all cases of this illness.

Last updated:	April 23, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC