Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open · 8 authors, 7 centres
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This narrative review provides emergency physicians with a comprehensive overview of measles epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, complications, and prevention. The central message is that measles remains a significant public health threat due to falling vaccination rates, and emergency physicians play a critical role in early recognition, supportive care, and preventing transmission.
This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on measles (rubeola) for emergency physicians, drawing on published literature and public health data. The authors describe the resurgence of measles in the United States and globally, attributed largely to falling vaccination rates amplified by COVID-19 disruptions. Complications can affect up to 40% of patients, with pneumonia being the most common severe complication and encephalitis a rare but devastating central nervous system sequela. Diagnosis relies on RT-PCR and serologic testing. There is no specific antiviral treatment; management is supportive, with vitamin A supplementation recommended for all children with acute measles. The article emphasizes the importance of airborne precautions, reporting, and public health engagement.
