RUBELLA

(German Measles)

 Basic information

description

Rubella is a mild, contagious, viral illness. It can affect all ages, but has been most common in children. Use of the rubella vaccine has reduced the number of cases in the United States by 99%. Rubella is likely to cause serious birth defects in the unborn baby of a pregnant woman who develops the disease in the first 3 or 4 months of pregnancy.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Fever.
• Muscle aches and stiffness, especially in the neck.
• Fatigue and headache.
• Reddish rash on the head and body after the 2nd or 3rd day. May have tiny purple spots in the throat. May have eye redness or irritation. The rash lasts 1 or 2 days.
• Swollen lymph glands, especially behind the ears and at the back and sides of the neck.
• Joint pain (adults).

causes

The rubella virus is spread by person-to-person contact. It takes 14 to 23 days after exposure before symptoms appear. Patients are contagious from one week before the rash appears until one week after it started.

risk increases with

• Young, unimmunized adults.
• Crowded living conditions.
• School or daycare.
• Weak immune system due to illness or drugs.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Vaccination:
  • For children, rubella vaccine is usually given with the measles and mumps vaccine (MMR).
  • Nonpregnant women of childbearing age should be vaccinated if they have not had rubella or have not been vaccinated before. Pregnancy should be prevented for one month after vaccination. A blood test can be done if a woman is unsure about her rubella immunity.
  • Health care workers and daycare workers should get vaccinated if they have not been, or if their vaccination history is unknown. Young adults, such as college students should get two doses of MMR if not previously vaccinated.
• A person should talk to their health care provider before being vaccinated if he or she has a weak immune system, as occurs with cancer patients, currently takes cortisone or anticancer drugs, is receiving radiation therapy, or has a serious illness.
• Persons, such as pregnant women, who are exposed to rubella and have not had it, or been vaccinated for it, should consult a health care provider right away.

expected outcomes

No specific treatment is needed. The illness will heal on its own in one week in children, sometimes longer in adults. Complications are rare.

possible complications

• Encephalitis (brain inflammation).
• Thrombocytopenia (a blood disorder).
• Agranulocytosis (reduction in white blood cells).
• Rubella infection in a pregnant woman may cause miscarriage or birth defects. The baby may have growth restriction; mental retardation; deafness; blindness; or liver, spleen, and bone marrow problems.

 diagnosis & treatment

general measures

• Your health care provider can usually diagnose the disorder with a physical exam. Medical tests are normally not done for rubella. If needed, cultures of the throat, blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid can confirm the presence of the virus.
• Usually no specific treatment is required. Get extra rest and drink plenty of fluids.
• Be sure to contact any pregnant woman who has been exposed to the patient. Exposure includes contact with the infected person 1 week prior to, during, or 1 week after the start of symptoms. This woman should consult her obstetric care provider right away.

medications

For minor discomfort, you may use nonprescription drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

activity

Get extra rest until the symptoms get better.

diet

No special diet.

 notify our office if

• You or a family member has symptoms of rubella.
• The following occur during treatment: high fever, red eyes, cough, shortness of breath, severe headache, drowsiness, lethargy, or convulsion.
• Unusual bleeding occurs 1 to 4 weeks after the illness (from gums, nose, uterus, or blood specks on the skin).

Special Notes: