Evaluation of the measles clinical case definition.

An accurate system of identifying and classifying suspected measles cases is critical for the measles surveillance system in the United States. To examine the performance of the clinical case definition in predicting laboratory confirmation of suspected cases of measles, we reviewed 4 studies conducted between 1981 and 1994. A clinical case definition was examined that included a generalized maculopapular rash, fever (>or=38.