Also known as German measles
ABOUT THE DISEASE
Rubella is a contagious infection. It is characterized by red rash on the body, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. It rarely affects young infants or people over 40 years but the infection can take place at any age.
If the infection takes place during early pregnancy, it may result in congenital rubella syndrome, which can have a long-term effect on the fetus.
Rubella is preventable through vaccination.
SYMPTOMS
- • Fever
- • Runny nose
- • Headache
- • Rash
- • Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the lining of the surface of the eye)
- • Joint pain
- • Swollen glands (especially at the back of the neck)
CAUSES
It is caused by rubella virus and passes from person to person. It can spread by coming in direct contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person or by inhaling the germ-filled droplets scattered in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also transmit from a pregnant woman to her unborn child through the bloodstream.
A person with rubella is contagious up to one week before the rash appears, and remains so up to 7 days after. So an infected person can spread the illness even before that person realizes he or she has it.
DIAGNOSIS
The clinical diagnosis of rubella based on the appearance of the rash is not reliable. Therefore, it is diagnosed by a blood test or a virus culture which determines the different rubella antibodies present in the blood.
TREATMENT METHODS
There is no effective treatment which can shorten the course of rubella infection. The treatment usually is not even necessary because the symptoms are quite mild. However, isolation from others, especially pregnant women, during the contagious period is often recommended by the doctors.
In order to treat the symptoms, lots of fluids and pain relief may be needed. Paracetamol may be given to reduce fever and pain though Aspirin should be avoided for children less than 12 years of age unless specifically recommended.
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