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WHAT  IS  RUBLLA?

 

Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles is a contagious illness caused by a virus that invades cells of the skin and lymph glands.

 

• The term German does not indicate any connection with Germany. It probably comes from the old French word germain which means 'similar to' or 'alike'. Thus the term 'German measles' simply means 'like measles'
• It is a much milder disease than measles and does not usually cause any serious problems, except for pregnant women. 
• The incubation period is 14-21 days, the average being 18 days. Infection usually requires fairly close contact with an infected person and the rubella virus is passed on in droplets from the nose and throat. A person is contagious from one week before until one week after the rash appears. 
• The virus is also present in the blood and stools of the infected person, but transmission in this way is unlikely. 
• Rubella occurs more frequently in winter and spring. 

One of the symptoms of rubella is a non-itchy rash that starts on the forehead and moves down the face to the body. This usually lasts for one to five days.

 

Symptom

 

Up to half of those who contract rubella show no symptoms at all, and children and small babies are usually the least affected. Children with rubella usually recover within a week, although adults can take longer. This is why it can be difficult to detect and diagnose.

 

Fever: rubella may begin with one or two days of mild fever, with a body temperature of 37.2-38.8°C (99-102°F) and with symptoms similar to those of influenza.

 

Swollen glands: along with the fever there may be swelling of the glands at the back of the child's neck or behind the ears.

 

Rash: after two or three days a non-itchy rash spreads from the child's forehead down the rest of the body. This can be the first symptom of rubella in small children. The pink or red spots are about 2-3mm (up to 1/8 in) in diameter and may merge to form patches. The rash can last for any period of time between one to five days. As it spreads down the child's body, the affected skin may be shed in flakes.

 

Other symptoms: a child with rubella may complain of aching joints and a stuffy or runny nose.

 

Rubella and pregnancy

 

Rubella is a harmless illness in children. However, doctors pay special attention to it because the disease can cause defects in an unborn baby if it is caught by a pregnant woman who is not immune to rubella.

 

• It is very important to ensure that neither the patient nor any contacts who are not immune to rubella come into contact with a pregnant woman. 
• Babies infected with rubella during their early development in the womb may suffer from serious defects, including growth retardation, malformations of the heart, eyes and brain, deafness and problems with the liver, spleen and bone marrow. 
• The risk of damage is very high during the first10 weeks of pregnancy; at least 50 per cent of foetuses that come into contact with rubella develop abnormalities. Only 10-20 per cent of foetuses are damaged during weeks 10-16. 
• After the 16th week of pregnancy, damage is rare. 

Home nursing

 

Very little treatment is necessary. The disease is normally very mild in children and the symptoms are resolved within a few days.

 

• A child should be kept off school until he is well again and as a general rule for at least seven days after the appearance of the rash.
• The child's temperature should be taken regularly.
• Keep the child cool by reducing the amount of clothing or bedding.
• Depending on how ill the child is feeling, he should be encouraged to rest.
• There is no specific reason to keep children away from the patient - in fact it may be beneficial for children, particularly girls, to get rubella as this can confer immunity in later life
• Rubella cannot be treated with antibiotics. To relieve minor discomfort, liquid paracetamol can be given. Children with a fever should not be given aspirin. 

One of the first symptoms of rubella can be a high temperature, so this should be closely monitored.

 

When to call the doctor

 

It is important for a diagnosis to be made as soon as possible.

 

A doctor should be called if the child develops a fever of over 38.3°C (101°F) or if the child appears to be unusually ill for what is normally considered a mild disease.

If you suspect your child has rubella, you should not take him into a crowded surgery, If you have to visit the surgery, telephone first to tell them that you are bringing in a child             with suspected rubella. This way an appointment can be arranged where your child does not come into any contact with pregnant women.

A pregnant woman who comes into contact with rubella and is not sure if she has immunity should seek medical advice immediately. 

Immunization

 

Anyone who is not immune to the rubella virus may catch rubella. A simple blood test can establish whether or not someone is immune.

 

• Until the late 1980s, girls were routinely inoculated against the rubella virus when they were in their early teens.
• Today a vaccine known as MMR is given at the age of 12-15 months, with a booster at three to five years of age.
• The MMR vaccine is a combined vaccine that protects against mumps, measles and rubella.
• Rubella vaccine normally, but unfortunately not always, provides immunity for life.
• The MMR vaccine is not given to pregnant women or to women likely to become pregnant within three months of vaccination.
• Actually having the disease usually confers lifelong immunity. The disease causes the body to produce antibodies that remain in the blood for life, preventing any later infection.
• Testing of pregnant women for rubella immunity is accurate. However, people's memories of past illnesses can be inaccurate and some women may mistakenly think they have had rubella in the past and that they are immune to the virus.
• If a non-immune pregnant woman is exposed to the rubella virus, she will be given blood tests over the following one to three weeks to establish whether or not she has developed the rubella virus.
• It is thought that if the use of the vaccine were to become sufficiently administered worldwide, the disease could be successfully wiped out in the same way that smallpox has been eradicated. 

Your child will be given a combined vaccine that protects against mumps, measles and rubella. This usually provides immunity for life.

 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.