AEMCA Practice Exam

What are the initial symptoms of rubeola?

1. Itchy rash and low fever

2. Fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, cough

3. Headache and swelling of lymph nodes

4. Loss of appetite and fatigue

The correct answer is: Fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, cough

The initial symptoms of rubeola, commonly known as measles, typically include fever, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye), coryza (inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose producing a runny nose), and a cough. These symptoms usually appear about 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, and they are crucial for the diagnosis of measles. Fever often starts around the time these symptoms begin and is usually accompanied by the other manifestations, indicating the body's immune response to the infection. Conjunctivitis may cause redness and watering of the eyes, adding to the discomfort. Coryza contributes to nasal symptoms that can resemble a common cold, while the cough can be persistent and troublesome. In contrast, while other options mention symptoms that could be associated with different conditions or later stages of rubeola, they do not capture the classic initial presentation of the disease. Symptoms such as an itchy rash and low fever are not typically part of the earliest phase, while headache and lymph node swelling might occur later or could be seen in various other illnesses. Similarly, loss of appetite and fatigue are more general symptoms and do not specifically highlight the distinct early signs of measles.