What are the symptoms of measles according to the CDC?

According to the CDC, measles symptoms appear 7-14 days after exposure, beginning with a high fever (potentially exceeding 104 degrees), cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes. Two to three days after initial symptoms, tiny white spots develop inside the mouth, followed by the distinctive measles rash. The rash begins as flat red spots at the hairline, spreading downward to the neck, chest, and trunk, eventually covering the entire body as spots join together. When the rash appears, fever can spike even higher than 104 degrees, making this a particularly concerning stage of the illness.