Rubella, German Measles

Rubella also known as German measles is a viral infection which is very common in children andis best recognized by its distinctive red rash. It is not the same as measles or rubeola though these two condition share the same characteristic that of red rash.

Rubella is caused by a different type of virus called togavirus and spreads in the similar way as cold or flu through someone who is infected with this ailment via their droplets of moisture from the nose or throat which is released in the air when they cough, talk or sneeze. A person can get affected when they tend to come in contact with the droplets from these infected people and it could take two to three weeks for the symptoms to surface.

A person with rubella could be infectious to other people from one week before the symptoms develop and up to four days after the rash appears. In such a case, the infected person should stay away from work or school for six days after the rash starts in order to avoid the spread of this disease to others especially pregnant women where the highest risk to the foetus is during the first trimester as well as later stage of pregnancy.

Measles Mumps Rubella – MMR Vaccine

The symptoms of rubella usually tend to last a few days though the glands may get swollen for several weeks. The measles mumps rubella – MMR, vaccine is given to children twice in the US before they reach the school level and is highly effecting in the prevention of rubella.

 The symptoms may include a high temperature, cold like symptoms like cough and running nose, swollen glands around the head and neck, red pink skin rash made up of small spots, and aching and painful joints.

The rubella rash may look like several other viral rashes and the physician usually conduct laboratory test to confirm rubella. The person may have a virus culture or a blood test which can help to detect the different types of rubella antibodies in the blood wherein these antibodies indicate if there had been a recent or past infection or a rubella vaccine.

Congenital Rubella 

There is no specific treatment for rubella though the symptoms tend to pass off normally within seven to ten days. The best way to prevent this disease is to be immunised with the MMR vaccine. Children are given this vaccine as their routine childhood immunisation programme which is given in two doses; the first is given between 12 – 13 months old and a booster when they are around three to five years of age.

MMR vaccine can be given to older children as well who have not been immunised earlier. Congenital rubella is an ailment which occurs when the virus in the mother affects the child during the first three months of pregnancy and affects the development of the child.

After the fourth month the mother’s rubella infection is less harmful to the child. Pregnant women who have not been vaccinated for rubella and have not been infected with the disease in the past are at risk of getting infected themselves as well as the unborn child.