What combination of symptoms is classic for measles?

• A. High fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body.
• B. Low fever with a vesicular rash on the palms.
• C. High fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis with a rash that begins on the face and spreads downward.
• D. Fever alone without rash

Answer: (C)

Measles presents most characteristically with the three C's: cough, coryza (nasal congestion), and conjunctivitis, all on top of a high fever, followed by a maculopapular rash that begins on the face and spreads downward to the rest of the body. The option that lists high fever, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis with a rash starting on the face and moving downward matches this classic pattern. Koplik spots on the mucosa may appear before the rash and are highly suggestive if seen. The other choices are less consistent: one describes a vesicular palm rash, which isn’t typical for measles; another mentions fever without a rash, which would not fit measles; and using non-specific terms like "runny nose" instead of coryza makes the description less precise.