What is Rubella?

About Rubella:

• It is a highly contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash.
• It's also called German measles or three-day measles.
• Rubella isn't the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some signs and symptoms, such as the red rash.
• Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn't as infectious or as severe as measles.
• Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus, different from the measles virus.
• Transmission:
  • The Rubella virus spreads from person to person when you cough, sneeze, or touch surfaces with the virus on them.
  • It can also spread from a pregnant woman to the fetus.
  • You can be contagious with rubella without symptoms.
• Symptoms:
  • This infection may cause mild or no symptoms in most people.
  • The main symptom of rubella is a spotty rash that starts on the face or behind the ears and spreads to the neck and body.
  • The rash takes 2 to 3 weeks to appear after getting rubella.
  • Rubella can cause serious problems for unborn babies whose mothers become infected during pregnancy.
  • When a woman is infected with the rubella virus early in pregnancy, she has a 90% chance of passing the virus on to her fetus.
  • This can cause the death of the fetus, or it may cause Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Infants with CRS may excrete the virus for a year or more.
  • Children with CRS can suffer hearing impairments, eye and heart defects, and other lifelong disabilities, including autism, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid dysfunction.
• Prevention:
  • The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing rubella.
  • The vaccine provides lifelong protection against rubella.
  • Treatment:
  • There are currently no medications available to treat rubella.
  • Mild symptoms can be managed with bed rest and medicines for fever.