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The dry cough caused by measles manifests as continuous, unbroken sounds, resulting from excessive fire causing lung qi to rebel upwards. Generally, before the eruption of rashes, a preference for coughing is observed; severe coughing opens the hair follicles (pores), facilitating the emergence of rashes, while mild coughing closes the interstices (cou li), making it difficult for rashes to emerge. Therefore, at the initial stage of rash eruption, coughing is desired. After the rashes have fully emerged, it is ideal for the patient not to cough; if coughing persists, the treatment should focus on clearing phlegm and descending fire. If there is no cough at the onset, the measles will likely fail to emerge; in this case, Banxia (Pinellia Rhizome) should be added to dispersing formulas to assist in inducing cough, thereby promoting the emergence of measles.

Clear nasal passages with abundant nasal discharge indicate smooth lung qi, which is highly auspicious. Thus, from the initial appearance of rashes until their disappearance, the presence of such discharge indicates harmonious lung qi without obstruction, constituting a favorable course (Shun Zheng), requiring no medication. The term "abundant discharge" here refers to thick nasal mucus appearing intermittently, not scanty or transient discharge; clinicians must discern this carefully. Absence of nasal discharge accompanied by a dry nose indicates internal heat in the lungs and bowels, blocking the pores and causing obstruction; if this occurs during the pre-eruption or early eruption phase, the condition will inevitably be severe. Another scenario involves intense internal heat combined with external crusting of nasal discharge (chi), leading to an absence of liquid discharge. If one assumes that once the crusts are cleared, discharge will naturally appear, it indicates patent lung qi; although the condition is severe, it is treatable. However, true nasal dryness with no discharge signifies a critical condition. Even if it appears after the rashes have faded, treatment requires careful deliberation. Induction of sneezing through purgative methods indicates the resolution and patency of lung qi. During the pre-eruption phase, an external pathogenic factor is invariably present; the current patency explains why, despite heavy toxicity, the condition is salvageable. If this occurs during the active eruption phase, it implies the toxin has been completely resolved, posing no further risk. Epistaxis (nosebleed) may occur due to rampant internal heat causing turbulent blood flow, where blood transforms under fire's influence and overflows from the lungs into the nose, termed epistaxis. Sudden epistaxis during the pre-eruption phase indicates the release of toxins through bleeding, requiring no medication. However, prolonged epistaxis is inadvisable. If epistaxis occurs after the rashes have fully erupted or faded, cooling-blood herbs should be added to lung-clearing prescriptions to extinguish fire and stop bleeding. If oral bleeding accompanies epistaxis and does not cease with cooling agents, dispersing methods should be employed to expel toxins, after which epistaxis will naturally stop. "Nasal flaring" (Bi Shan), characterized by the flapping of nostrils, indicates impending exhaustion of lung qi. Wheezing, chest fullness, and barking sounds in the throat are mostly attributable to phlegm, arising from extreme hyperactivity due to internal accumulation of fire-toxin. If there is no wheezing with phlegm in the throat and mental status remains normal, rescue is possible; urgent treatment should prioritize moistening the lungs, eliminating phlegm, and clearing heat. Otherwise, the condition is difficult to treat.