Rubella Health Article

Definition

Rubella is a contagious infection in which there is a rash on the skin.

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.

A person can transmit the disease from 1 week before the rash begins, until 1 - 2 weeks after the rash disappears. The disease is less contagious than rubeola (measles). After an infection, people have immunity to the disease for the rest of their lives.

In children and adults, rubella is usually mild and may even go unnoticed.

Risk factors include:

• Not being vaccinated against rubella
• Exposure to an active rubella virus

Symptoms

Children generally have few symptoms. Adults may experience a fever, headache, general discomfort (malaise), and a runny nose before the rash appears. They may not notice the symptoms.

Other symptoms may include:

• Bruising (rare)
• Inflammation of the eyes (bloodshot eyes)
• Muscle or joint pain

Signs and tests

• Nasal or throat swab for viral culture
• Rubella serology

Treatment

There is no treatment for this disease.

Patients can take acetaminophen to reduce fever.

Defects that occur with congenital rubella syndrome can be treated.

Expectations (prognosis)

Rubella is usually a mild infection.

However, if a mother is infected during early pregnancy, rubella can cause defects in the developing baby. The unborn baby can develop congenital rubella syndrome, which typically has a poor outcome. Defects are rare if the infection occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Complications

Complications that can occur in the unborn baby:

• Cataracts
• Congenital heart defects
• Congenital rubella syndrome
• Deafness
• Ear infection (otitis media)
• Encephalitis (rare)
• Mental retardation
• Microcephaly
• Transient arthritis (common in adolescents and adults with rubella)

A miscarriage or stillbirth may occur.