Rubella, or what is called German measles is a viral infection that is characterized mostly by its red rash. However, it is undoubtedly not like measles or rubeola, but they do share some characteristics including the red rash. Although, rubella is mostly caused by a different virus, which is less infectious than measles.
Rubella Symptoms
Most of the signs and Rubella are mostly mild and difficult to notice, especially when it comes to children. However, if they occurred, they generally appear between two and three weeks after getting the virus and last from one to five days.
Moreover, these symptoms might include:
- Inflamed, red eyes
- Enlarged, tender lymph nodes at the base of the skull, the back of the neck and behind the ears
- A fine, pink rash that begins on the face and quickly spreads to the trunk and then the arms and legs, before disappearing in the same sequence
- Aching joints, especially in young women
- Mild fever of 102 F (38.9 C) or lower
- Headache
- Stuffy or runny nose
- prolonged headache
- earache
- stiff neck
Causes and Prevention
Rubella is a virus that is transmitted from person to person by coughs or sneezes. Moreover, it is spread by direct contact with an infected person. Furthermore, it can also be transmitted from pregnant women to their unborn children. Therefore, someone with this kind of virus, is usually set be isolated from the public for a period of time.
Rubella vaccine is usually given as a measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine, each of which contains the safest and most effective form. Therefore, most doctor recommends that your child receive the MMR vaccine again between the ages of 12 and 15 months and between the ages of 4 and 6 before entering school. Furthermore, it is particularly important that girls are vaccinated against rubella during future pregnancy.