Measles is a viral disease that is most common in children. It starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, and inflamed eyes. After three or four days, a rash of brownish pink spots begins behind the ears. This spreads to the rest of the body usually lasting five to seven days. The child may feel ill and have small white spots inside the cheeks. When the rash stops spreading, the temperature falls, and the child begins to feel better. Possible complications of measles include ear and chest infections and more seriously encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

In measles, the child may be more comfortable resting in a bed in a darkened room, though a young child will probably not wish to be left alone. Be sure he or she drinks plenty of fluids. Basic treatment of measles includes rest, reducing any fever, and general nursing care. Keep an infected child, or who may be incubating an infection, away from young babies and others who are in particular risk, such as pregnant women, the elderly and the chronically sick.

If the child has fever, give plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Give solid foods only as tolerated in the first few days. Try chicken soup and carbohydrates such as potatoes. To boost immune system, give garlic tablets or capsules or, if your child will eat it, add raw garlic to food.

Aconite is helpful in curing the early stages of measles, when the child is restless, or when measles appears very suddenly. Belladonna is also used for treatment of measles in the early stages, when the child is very thirsty, and movement is painful and makes him or her want to stay still. Apis is used for measles, when the child has red, puffy eyes, swollen lymph nodes (glands) and restlessness, or when he or she has a fever and does not want to be covered and is drowsy but finds it hard to fall asleep.

Euphrasia is helpful in relieving sore, streaming eyes and sensitivity to light with measles. Pulsatilla must be used for a child who is clingy or weepy, has a slight fever and a cough, and feels better when cool. To reduce the extreme restlessness, Rhus toxicodendron can be used.