Definition
Rubella is a contagious viral illness. Once you have had rubella, you will not get sick with it again.
Babies, whose mothers have rubella during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, can be born with severe birth defects including:
- Intellectual disability and/or behavior problems
- Hearing problems
- Vision abnormalities, blindness, and/or cataracts
- Heart defects
- Increased risk of diabetes throughout early life
- Death in utero
Causes
Rubella is caused by a virus. It is passed from person to person through tiny droplets in the air.
Risk Factors
You’re more likely to get rubella if:
- You have never had the condition.
- You have never been immunized against it.
Symptoms
Symptoms are usually mild and include:
- Fatigue, low energy
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Flushed face
- Red throat (although not sore)
- Fever
- Headache
- Achy joints and arthritis (especially in adults)
- Red, spotty rash all over the body
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Rubella is diagnosed by blood tests.
Treatment
There is no treatment for rubella. To help make you more comfortable, your doctor may give you acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Prevention
The rubella vaccine is often given as a combination vaccine:
- Measles and mumps vaccine (MMR)
- Measles, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox) vaccine (MMRV)
The regular schedule for giving the vaccine is at age 12-15 months and again at age 4-6 years. If you or your child has never been vaccinated against rubella, talk to the doctor.
Women who are not sure if they have been vaccinated should be tested. This is very important if they are in occupations with high risk of exposure to rubella, such as:
- Healthcare workers
- Teachers
- Childcare workers