Lung
Infectious
Viral
Measles
Author: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D.
Last author update: 1 September 2011
Last staff update: 9 August 2022
Copyright: 2003-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: measles [title] pulmonary
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) images | Videos | Differential diagnosisCite this page: Weisenberg E. Measles. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/lungnontumormeasles.html. Accessed December 25th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Also called rubeola
- Infectious acute febrile illness characterized by upper respiratory infection symptoms and maculopapular rash
- Spread by aerosols and droplets from respiratory secretions or rarely fomites
- Significant public health problem in United States prior to the development of an effective vaccine; still common in some nonindustrialized countries
- Recently, recrudescence has occurred in developed world due to some parents refusing to vaccinate their children and importation (Cleve Clin J Med 2010;77:207)
- Highly infectious, affecting up to 90% of individuals in nonimmune populations
- Also occurs in adults (MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011;60:666)
- Pneumonia is serious complication of childhood exanthema
- May cause bronchiolitis or diffuse alveolar damage
- Secondary bacterial pneumonia may occur
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Epithelial giant cells with viral inclusions
- Nuclei may contain a single large Cowdry type A inclusion
- Reticuloendothelial (Warthin-Finkeldey) giant cells may be found in lymphoid tissue
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Giant cells
Videos
Histopathology Lung - Measles pneumonia
Differential diagnosis
- Other giant cell pneumonias, RSV, parainfluenza, pneumoconioses
