Rubella (patient information)
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Rubella |
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Rubella On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor-in-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty
Overview
Rubella is a contagious infection in which there is a rash on the skin.
What are the symptoms of Rubella?
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
What causes Rubella?
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.
Who is at highest risk?
- Not being vaccinated against rubella
- Exposure to an active rubella virus
Diagnosis
Tests include:
- Nasal or throat swab for viral culture
- Rubella serology
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
- You are a woman of childbearing age and are unsure of whether you have been vaccinated against rubella
- You or your child develop a severe headache, stiff neck, earache, or vision problems during or after a case of rubella
- You or your child need to receive MMR immunization (vaccine)
Treatment options
There is no treatment for this disease. Patients can take acetaminophen to reduce fever. Defects that occur with congenital rubella syndrome can be treated.
Where to find medical care for Rubella?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Rubella
What to expect (Outlook/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.
Possible 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.
Diseases with similar symptoms
Prevention
There is a safe and effective vaccine to prevent rubella. The rubella vaccine is recommended for all children. It is routinely given when children are 12 - 15 months old, but is sometimes given earlier during epidemics. A second vaccination (booster) is routinely given to children ages 4 - 6. MMR is a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Women of childbearing age usually have a blood test to see if they have immunity to rubella. If they are not immune, women should avoid getting pregnant for 28 days after receiving the vaccine.
Those who should not get vaccinated include:
- Women who are pregnant
- Anyone whose immune system is affected by cancer, corticosteroid medications, or radiation treatment.
Great care is taken not to give the vaccine to a woman who is already pregnant. However, in the rare instances when pregnant women have been vaccinated, no problems have been detected in the infants.