Measles (Morbilli): Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin, mucous membranes, oral cavity, pharynx (throat), and sclera (white part of the eye) [Koplik spots (white spots in the area of the oral mucosa), conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva), enanthem (redness of the mucosa; in the area of the palate in measles), maculopapular exanthema (patchy rash occurring with small nodules; spreads from the head to the limbs; occurs from about the third day), pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat)]
    • Examination of the lungs (due topossible secondary diseases).
      • Auscultation (listening) of the lungs [bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi)]
      • Bronchophony (checking the transmission of high-frequency sounds; the patient is asked to pronounce the word “66” several times in a pointed voice while the doctor listens to the lungs)[increased sound conduction due to pulmonary infiltration/compaction of lung tissue (e.g., in pneumonia) the consequence is, the number “66” is better understood on the diseased side than on the healthy side; in the case of decreased sound conduction (attenuated or absent: e.g., in pleural effusion). The result is, the number “66” is barely audible to absent over the diseased part of the lung, because the high-frequency sounds are strongly attenuated]
      • Voice fremitus (checking the transmission of low frequencies; the patient is asked to say the word “99” several times in a low voice, while the doctor puts his hands on the chest or back of the patient)[increased sound conduction due to pulmonary infiltration / compaction of lung tissue (eg, in pneumonia) the consequence is, the number “99” is better understood on the diseased side than on the healthy side; in the case of reduced sound conduction (greatly attenuated or absent: in pleural effusion). The consequence is, the number “99” is barely audible to absent over the diseased part of the lung, because the low-frequency sounds are strongly attenuated]
  • Neurological examination [due topossible secondary diseases:
    • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
    • Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) (generalized encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) that can occur several years after measles infection; is extremely rare)]

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.