Which disease is described by fever, malaise, anorexia, conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough?

Which disease is described by fever, malaise, anorexia, conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough?

• A. Measles
• B. Hepatitis A
• C. Influenza
• D. Chickenpox

Answer: (A)

The symptoms you’re seeing form a classic prodrome pattern for measles. A high fever with malaise and anorexia, together with conjunctivitis, coryza (runny nose), and cough, points to the early phase of measles before the characteristic rash appears. Koplik spots on the inside of the cheek can also appear early and help with diagnosis. This combination is distinctive for measles and isn’t typical of the other listed diseases: hepatitis A usually involves jaundice and liver-related symptoms; influenza centers on fever with severe myalgias and cough but conjunctivitis and coryza aren’t defining features; chickenpox is dominated by fever followed by a vesicular rash. So the pattern of fever with malaise, anorexia, conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough best fits measles.

The symptoms you’re seeing form a classic prodrome pattern for measles. A high fever with malaise and anorexia, together with conjunctivitis, coryza (runny nose), and cough, points to the early phase of measles before the characteristic rash appears. Koplik spots on the inside of the cheek can also appear early and help with diagnosis. This combination is distinctive for measles and isn’t typical of the other listed diseases: hepatitis A usually involves jaundice and liver-related symptoms; influenza centers on fever with severe myalgias and cough but conjunctivitis and coryza aren’t defining features; chickenpox is dominated by fever followed by a vesicular rash. So the pattern of fever with malaise, anorexia, conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough best fits measles.