Measles can be spotted earlier than you think.
With a dramatic rise in cases across the US, the highly contagious respiratory disease is back with a vengeance, as the CDC reported the highest numbers in more than 30 years.
However, one inconspicuous sign can be observed before the telltale rash and common cold symptoms appear.
Measles often starts with a cough, runny nose, sore throat and watery eyes, before escalating to a high fever and red rash that spreads across the body.
One more sign that can appear first, though, is “Koplik spots”, tiny white spots inside the mouth that look like tiny grains of sand or salt on a red background.
Located opposite the first or second upper molars on the inside of the cheeks, these spots are no more than 2 to 3 mm in size.
They’re also one of the first signs of measles, appearing two to three days after the initial three C symptoms: cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis (red or watery eyes).
These spots also show up just one or two days right before the skin rash, and then fade when the red flat bumps appear.
While they’re not present in all cases of measles, they have been present in a majority, up to 70% of those infected.
The highly contagious disease can spread quickly because of how easily it travels through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks, releasing droplets packed with the virus that others nearby can inhale.
It can also infect 9 out of 10 people who are unvaccinated and exposed.
And it doesn’t take long to catch this illness, as the virus can survive on surfaces or suspended in the air for up to two hours.
There are still unseen risks from being exposed.
The measles virus can also attack cells in the immune system responsible for remembering past infections.
This results in immune amnesia, when your immune system forgets how to defend against viruses and bacteria it has already defeated.
There can also be several long-term complications, ranging from mild to life-threatening, such as ear infections, laryngitis, brain swelling, blindness and death.
The CDC reports that after two doses, the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles.
Recent studies also show that the shot may boost the function of certain immune cells, making them more effective at fighting off other diseases as well.
But despite the effectiveness, vaccinations have been on the decline.
Only 92.5% of incoming kindergarteners received the MMR vaccine for the 2024-2025 school year, below the 95% threshold public health experts say is necessary to prevent outbreaks.
