Rubella Health Article

Definition

Rubella is a contagious viral infection with mild symptoms associated with a rash.

Alternative Names

Three day measles; German measles

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The disease is caused by a virus that is spread through the air or by close contact. It can also be transmitted to a fetus by a mother with an active infection, causing severe disease in the fetus. In children and adults, rubella is usually mild and may even go unnoticed.

Children generally have few symptoms, but adults may experience fever, headache, malaise, and a runny nose before the rash appears. A person can transmit the disease from 1 week before the onset of the rash, until 1-2 weeks after the rash disappears. The disease is less contagious than rubeola (measles). Lifelong immunity to the disease follows infection, and there is a safe and effective vaccine to prevent rubella.

Rubella is most serious because of its ability to produce defects in a developing fetus if the mother is infected during early pregnancy. Congenital rubella syndrome occurs in 25% or more of infants born to women who acquired rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Defects are rare if the infection occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. One or more defects may occur in an infected fetus and include deafness, cataracts, microcephaly, mental retardation, congenital heart defects, and other problems. A miscarriage or stillbirth may occur.

Risk factors include lack of immunization and exposure to an active case of rubella.

Symptoms

• Low-grade fever (102 F or lower)
• Headache
• General discomfort or uneasiness (malaise)
• Runny nose
• Inflammation of the eyes (bloodshot eyes)
• Rash with skin redness or inflammation
• Muscle or joint pain
• Encephalitis (rare)
• Bruising (from low platelet count, rare)

Signs and tests

• A rubella serology
• A nasal or throat swab for viral culture

Treatment

There is no treatment for this disease. Acetaminophen can be given to reduce fever. The treatment of congenital rubella syndrome is for the defects that may be present.