The initial symptoms of measles can include: 1  a runny or blocked nose. 2  sneezing. 3  watery eyes.  swollen 1  eyelids. sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light.  a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C 1  (104F) small greyish-white spots in the mouth (see 2  below) aches and 3  pains. 4  a cough. loss of  appetite.