Rubella

What is Rubella?

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a highly infectious disease caused by a type of togavirus. It mostly affects young children, but can cause severe disease in the unborn baby if the mother isn't immune to the virus.

Once infected, most people are immune for life.

What are the symptoms?

Once infected with the virus, it can take up to 14 to 21 days before showing symptoms. People can be infected with the virus and show few if any signs of illness. Symptoms of rubella are usually mild, but can include:

• Cold type symptoms – runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, cough

• Joint pain (more common in adults)

• Swollen glands behind the ears and at the back of the head

• Fever

• Red-pink rash

The rubella rash appears 3 to 4 days after the first symptoms. It usually starts behind the ears, before spreading to the face, neck and then the rest of the body.

Disease complications caused by the virus include diarrhoea, vomiting, inner ear infections and convulsions. More severe, but less common illness which can occur include pneumonia, croup and encephalitis.

The virus can cause severe birth defects to the unborn child, if the mother doesn't have immunity to the virus.

In the first 11 weeks of pregnancy, 90% of women who become infected with rubella pass it on to their unborn child. This figure drops to 20% between 11-16 weeks. From 16-20 weeks the risk of severe birth defects is lower, but deafness in the baby can still occur.

Some of the birth defects include brain conditions, deafness, cataracts, heart and growth problems.

How is it spread?

It is carried in the air by droplets produced by the coughs and sneezes of infected people, or through direct contact with the virus e.g. drinking from a cup used by someone who is infected.

Prevention and treatment

Children with rubella are infectious for one week before the rash appears and five days after. If you think your child is infected with the rubella virus, they need to be kept off school and away from pregnant women.

Contact your GP if you think your child may have rubella.

The MMR vaccine, given at 13 months and followed by a pre-school booster between the ages of 3 and 5 protects against the disease. If you are planning for a baby, your GP can give you a blood test to see if you have immunity to the virus.

There is no specific drug which can kill the virus. The symptoms can be lessened by:

-Using liquid paracetamol for the fever, aches and pains

-Keeping your child cool, but not cold

-Ensuring they don’t become dehydrated – give them plenty of fluids

This article was published on Wed 4 November 2009