Pneumonia—Measles

Also called: Rubeola

Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily from person to person. It causes a blotchy red rash. The rash often starts on the head and moves down the body. Other symptoms include

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Feeling achy and run down
• Tiny white spots inside the mouth

Sometimes measles can lead to serious problems. There is no treatment for measles, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it.

“German measles”, also known as rubella, is a completely different illness.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Measles (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Measles: Information for Parents (American Academy of Family Physicians) – PDF
• Measles: Information for Parents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Measles: Information for Parents (American Academy of Pediatrics) – PDF
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella) Vaccine: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Bronchopneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Many germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, can cause pneumonia. You can also get pneumonia by inhaling a liquid or chemical. People most at risk are older than 65 or younger than 2 years of age, or already have health problems.

Symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe. See your doctor promptly if you

• Have a high fever
• Have shaking chills
• Have a cough with phlegm that doesn’t improve or gets worse
• Develop shortness of breath with normal daily activities
• Have chest pain when you breathe or cough
• Feel suddenly worse after a cold or the flu

Your doctor will use your medical history, a physical exam, and lab tests to diagnose pneumonia. Treatment depends on what kind you have. If bacteria are the cause, antibiotics should help. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat it.

Preventing pneumonia is always better than treating it. Vaccines are available to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and the flu. Other preventive measures include washing your hands frequently and not smoking.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Aspiration pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Atypical pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Mycoplasma pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia – adults – discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia – children – community acquired (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pneumonia – children – discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Viral pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia)