A highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract caused by a virus and most commonly found in children. Symptoms begin with a high fever, hacking cough, runny nose, red and light-sensitive eyes, and irritability, and are then followed by a red to brown, blotchy rash which spreads from the head down. Coughing often continues throughout the rash period. The rash disappears in the same order as it appeared -- from the head down. For more information, visit Childhood Infections: Measles.