Measles typically lasts about 7 to 14 days. The illness usually begins with symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that appears 3 to 5 days after initial symptoms start. The rash itself generally lasts about 4 to 7 days before fading
. More specifically:
- The entire course of measles illness, from initial symptoms to recovery, is around 10 to 14 days if there are no complications
- The rash usually lasts about a week and fades gradually, starting from the face and spreading downward
- Most people recover fully within 2 to 3 weeks
- Children often feel better within a week of the rash appearing, though some symptoms like cough may linger a bit longer
People with measles are contagious from about 4 days before the rash appears until about 4 days after the rash starts
. In summary, measles is an illness that lasts roughly 1 to 2 weeks, with the rash phase lasting about a week, and full recovery usually occurring within 2 to 3 weeks in uncomplicated cases.
