11/10/2026
MEASLES: Know When to Seek Medical Care for Your Child
Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, especially in young children. Knowing what to do if your child develops symptoms can help protect your family and prevent illness from spreading.
If you think your child has measles:
• Keep your child away from other family members who are not sick.
• Have everyone in your household stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Call your child's healthcare provider or hospital right away. Call BEFORE arriving so healthcare staff can provide instructions and take precautions to prevent exposure to others.
When should you seek emergency medical care?
Go to the emergency department immediately if your child experiences:
• Trouble breathing or breathing faster than normal
• Pain when breathing or coughing
• Signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth, urinating less, or crying without tears
• Fever or headache that will not stop
• Confusion, decreased alertness, or severe weakness
• Blue color around the mouth, very low energy, or difficulty feeding in young children
DO NOT WAIT if your child is getting rapidly worse.
Before you arrive, have someone call the emergency department and explain that your child may have measles. When you arrive, remain in your vehicle while someone notifies the emergency department staff. Wait for instructions before bringing your child inside.
Remember: Measles often begins with a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash.
Learn more from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/
