What is measles? The six subtle symptoms to look out for in children

The early symptoms of measles can appear similar to other illnesses – here’s what to look out for LifestyleHealth & FamiliesWhat is measles? The six subtle symptoms to look out for in childrenThe early symptoms of measles can appear similar to other illnesses – here’s what to look out forCamilla Foster Thursday 19 February 2026 11:18 ESTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover‘Big measles outbreak’ affecting children under 10 confirmed in LondonYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreA measles outbreak is currently sweeping through schools in north-east London, prompting significant concern among parents as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirms hospitalisations among affected children. The highly contagious disease has primarily impacted unvaccinated children under the age of 10, with the UKHSA confirming that some affected children have required hospital treatment.The UKHSA had previously reported 34 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in Enfield from January 1 to February 9, while more than 60 suspected cases of measles have been reported by seven schools and a nursery in Enfield.Given that measles is often mistaken for other common illnesses, Dr Henrik Premasundaram, a GP at HCA Healthcare UK, has provided crucial advice on identifying its early, subtle symptoms and knowing when to seek urgent medical attention for worried families.Here are the early subtle symptoms parents should look out for.1. Cold-like symptomsopen image in galleryA cough and cold are early symptoms of measles. (Alamy/PA)“In the early phase, so usually between day one to day four, children with measles tend to have cold-like symptoms such as a cough, fever, runny nose and sore, red, watery eyes,” says Premasundaram.“Colds are very, very common at this time of year, but children with measles tend to look more unwell, more tired and more miserable than they would with a typical viral infection.”2. Sensitive to light“Children who get sore, watery eyes tend to be more sensitive to light, which you wouldn’t typically expect with a simple cold,” says Premasundaram.3. High feveropen image in galleryA high temperature can be a sign of measles. (Alamy/PA)“A high fever is a key symptom of measles and tends to keep rising over the first few days,” says Premasundaram.4. Loss of appetite“A child with measles might have a reduced appetite or a reduced fluid intake,” says Premasundaram.5. Rashesopen image in galleryMeasles is associated with a blotchy rash. (Alamy/PA)“Day four to day five is usually when a rash appears,” says Premasundaram. “A lot of the time it starts on the face and behind the ears then spreads down to the body, the trunk, the arms and to the legs.“The fever often peaks around the time that the rash appears.”The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches, but are not usually itchy, according to the NHS website.6. Small white spots inside the mouth“Some children start to develop small white spots inside their mouth before the full body rashes develop,” says Premasundaram. “These white spots are called ‘Koplik’s spots’ and are very specific to measles.”These spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips and usually last a few days, according to the NHS website.Is measles contagious?“Measles is highly contagious and can spread really quickly, from around four days before any rashes have even appeared until four days after,” says Premasundaram.“If you think your child might have measles I would recommend trying to safely isolate as much as possible. If there are other members of the family who are unvaccinated or at high risk they should try to avoid contact as much as reasonably possible.”Measles is spread by an infected person’s breathing, coughing or sneezing, so the NHS website recommends opening windows and doors to help reduce the risk, using tissues and binning them immediately, and washing your hands often with soap and warm water.Can measles lead to any complications?“Measles can lead to problems with breathing, infections and problems with the brain, so it can be very serious,” says Premasundaram.Other problem