Rubella is a contagious infection in which there is a rash on the skin.
Alternative NamesThree day measles; German measles
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe 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.
Risk factors include:
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:
There is no treatment for this disease.
Patients can take acetaminophen to reduce fever.
Defects that occur with congenital rubella syndrome can be treated.
Expectations (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.
ComplicationsComplications that can occur in the unborn baby:
A miscarriage or stillbirth may occur.
Calling your health care providerCall for an appointment with your health care provider if:
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:
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.
ReferencesWeisberg SS. Vaccine preventable diseases: current perspectives in historical context. Dis Mon. 2007;53:467-528.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Ages 7 - 18 Years. United States. 2009.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults. United States. 2009.
Rubella, also known as the German measles, is an infection in which there is a rash on the skin.
See also: Congenital rubella -- when a pregnant woman is infected with rubella and passes it to her baby while still in the womb.
Alternative NamesThree day measles; German measles
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsRubella is caused by a virus that is spread through the air or by close contact.
A person with rubella may spread the disease to others from 1 week before the rash begins, until 1 - 2 weeks after the rash disappears.
Because the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to most children, rubella is much less common now. Almost everyone who receives the vaccine has immunity to rubella. Immunity means that your body has built a defense to the rubella virus.
In some adults, the vaccine may wear off and not fully protect them. Women who may become pregnant and other adults may receive a booster shot.
Children and adults who were never vaccinated against rubella may still get this infection.
SymptomsChildren 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:
A nasal or throat swab may be sent for culture.
A blood test can be done to see if a person is protected against rubella. All women who may become pregnant should have this test. If the test is negative, they will receive the vaccine.
TreatmentThere is no treatment for this disease.
Patients can take acetaminophen to reduce fever.
Defects that occur with congenital rubella syndrome can be treated.
Expectations (prognosis)Rubella is usually a mild infection.
After an infection, people have immunity to the disease for the rest of their lives.
ComplicationsComplications can occur in the unborn baby if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. A miscarriage or stillbirth may occur. The child may be born with birth defects.
See also: Congenital rubella
Calling your health care providerCall for an appointment with your health care provider if:
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:
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.
ReferencesWeisberg SS. Vaccine preventable diseases: current perspectives in historical context. Dis Mon. 2007;53:467-528.
2012 immunization schedules for children 0 to 18 years of age. ACIP meeting, October 28, 2010.
Recommended adult immunization schedule United States. 2011 Proposed Revisions. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. October 28, 2010.
Coonrod DV, Jack BW, Boggess KA. The clinical content of preconception care: immunizations as part of preconception care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;199(6 Suppl 2):S290-S295.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 01/24/2011
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Can you give rubella vaccine to positive rubella patient?
Rubella is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning "little red."
MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is the vaccine used to prevent rubella.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella
No, it is not. However, congenital rubella syndrome is. This occurs when a pregnant woman contracts rubella early on in her pregnancy. The rubella may or may not affect the infant.
MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is the vaccine used to prevent rubella.
Rubella - song - was created in 1995.
Palaina rubella was created in 1889.
Burtia rubella was created in 1866.
Dioryctria rubella was created in 1891.
you can get the mmr vacsination (measles,mumps and rubella)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubella