Rubella
Rubella (German measles) is a contagious viral disease. Most patients with rubella often show mild or no symptoms at all. In addition, rubella can cause severe complications in a developing baby.
What is Rubella?
Rubella (German measles) is a contagious viral disease. Most patients with rubella often show mild or no symptoms at all. In addition, rubella can cause severe complications in a developing baby.
Rubella is not the same as measles, despite having similar red rashes as one of the symptoms. Moreover, the cause of rubella is a virus different from the one that causes measles. As for severity, rubella is less severe than measles.
MMR vaccine (measles–mumps–rubella) provides successful outcomes in preventing rubella. However, it is not available in every country.
Symptoms
Typically, rubella is asymptomatic, especially in children. Symptoms of rubella usually show two to three weeks after exposure to the virus. The symptoms can last for up to five days and are as follows.
- A fever of 38.9 C or lower
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Pink eye, inflamed eyes
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes at the base of the skull and back of the neck or ears.
- Pink rashes on the face, spreading to the body and limbs.
- Joint pain, usually in female adults.
When to see a doctor
Patients should schedule an appointment with a doctor if they suspect they or their children are exposed to the rubella virus or develop the abovementioned symptoms. Patients, especially the ones who plan on becoming pregnant, should track MMR vaccine records to confirm that they have received the vaccine. Rubella may cause congenital rubella syndrome, a life-threatening condition in a developing baby.
Symptoms of rubella become more serious if mothers are infected with the rubella virus during the first semester. The major cause of congenital deafness is rubella infection during pregnancy; therefore, it is crucial to receive the rubella or MMR vaccine before conceiving.
If patients are pregnant, a doctor may order regular rubella antibody tests. Patients should make an immediate appointment with a medical specialist if they suspect they are at risk of getting the rubella virus or haven’t received the rubella vaccine or MMR vaccine. In addition, a physician may order a blood test to check if the patients have rubella antibodies.
Causes
Rubella is caused by a virus that can be transmitted from one person to another. The rubella virus can spread through coughing or sneezing. Direct contact with mucus of rubella patients can also spread the virus. Mothers can pass on the virus to their developing babies through the bloodstream.
Patients can spread the virus for one to two weeks before rashes appear and one to two weeks after rashes disappear. The virus can be transmitted before patients are aware of the infection.
Nowadays, rubella is less common because children receive the rubella or MMR vaccination at a young age. However, the rubella virus can still be prevalent in some countries. Therefore, getting vaccinated before traveling abroad is vital, particularly for pregnant persons.
Complications
Rubella is not a serious infection. Rubella reinfection provides immunity for rubella for the rest of your life. Some female patients exposed to the rubella virus may experience arthritis in the fingers and knees, which lasts around one month. If the virus is potent, If the virus is potent, ear infection or encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) can occur.
In pregnant patients, rubella has a severe impact on a developing infant and can be life-threatening. Congenital rubella affects 80% of newborns if the mothers are infected with the virus during pregnancy. If fetuses get congenital rubella, the following syndrome can occur.
- Growth retardation
- Cataracts
- Deafness
- Congenital heart disease
- Limb abnormalities
- Intellectual disabilities
Rubella causes the most severe damage during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant patients can still develop severe symptoms afterward.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis for rubella will be made in a laboratory to confirm the rubella infection. This is because rashes caused by rubella are similar to ones from other medical conditions. Moreover, viral culture and blood tests can be performed as they allow a physician to detect rubella antibodies, which can be found in the blood. The results can help a doctor understand whether the patients have had rubella vaccine or a history of rubella.
Treatment
Rubella does not require treatment as it causes merely mild symptoms. However, a physician may suggest staying away from other people, especially pregnant women, during the infectious period.
Pregnant patients should consult a doctor on the risk of passing infection to developing babies. A physician may prescribe serum immunoglobulin to alleviate the symptoms. This serum is made of antibodies that attack the rubella virus. However, the serum is not capable of lowering the risk of congenital rubella for newborns.
Treatment guidelines for congenital rubella vary from case to case and are according to the extent of the disease. Newborns with myriad complications require treatment and the rubella vaccine to start preventing rubella at its onset.
Lifestyle Modifications and Home Remedies
The following self-care recommendations help ease the symptoms when rubella occurs in both infants and adults.
• Take a rest.
• Take a pain reliever (e.g., Tylenol) to alleviate fever and pain.
