Measles Virus, Measles mnemonic - Microbiology mnemonics and tutorial

Measles Virus [weasels virus]

Paramyxovirus [pair of mikes]
RNA (-) [photo film negative]
Causes Rubeola (as opposed to Rubella)
Symptoms:
- Photosensitivity [the cop hates flash photography during public conference]
- Runny nose [nose running away]
- Characteristic rash that starts on the head and moves towards the feet [brush painting from top-to-bottom]. The rash contains characteristic inclusions within macrophages [smiley faces]
- Koplik's spots in mouth [a cop (policeman) is licking the pair of mikes]
- Pneumonia [weasels virus in lungs]
  - Virus lies dormant in upper bronchi for 2 weeks before eliciting pneumonia [weasels virus is "too weaks" and sleeps around trachea]
  - Viral pneumonia frequently predisposes to bacterial pneumonia [weasels virus magically makes bacteria appear in the lungs]
  - Measles is hemolytic [biting the erythrocyte]
Untreated measles results in a 1 out 20 risk of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis later in life [Russian-roulette gun with 1 bullet in 20-bullet magazine Russian gun]
Spread by respiratory droplets [hose spraying droplets]