Measles with overt jaundice in an adult aged over 60 years

Abstract

Conflict of interest: none declared. Measles is a widespread illness, occurring globally and developing primarily in children.1 The epidemiology of measles in Japan has been altered through massive immunization programmes. Adult patients aged > 60 years account for 0.2–0.5% of all patients with measles in Japan, and the symptoms are usually mild. We report a patient aged > 60 years of age with measles, who also had overt jaundice and purpura. A 66‐year‐old woman presented with a 3‐day history of fever (> 38.5 °C). At the first consultation, jaundice and a rash comprising erythema and swelling on her face and multiple areas of erythema and purpura on her trunk were observed, but there was no mucosal involvement. There was no medical history of note. The fever continued for 9 days, and the rash on the trunk and face disappeared on the 11th day. Multiple purpuric eruptions were observed on the lower legs (Fig. 1) from day 6 and disappeared on day 19.