Rubella is an infectious disease caused by viruses of the genus Rubivirus which is easily transmitted from person to person through small droplets of saliva, which can end up being distributed in the environment when someone infected with the disease sneezes, coughs or talks, for example.
Symptoms of rubella usually appear up to 21 days after contact with the virus, and it is possible to observe the appearance of small red spots on the skin spread throughout the body, itching and low fever.
There is no specific treatment for rubella and, therefore, the treatment aims to promote symptom relief, as it also does not present serious complications. However, contamination with rubella during pregnancy can be serious and, therefore, if the woman has never had contact with the disease or has never been vaccinated against the disease, she should be vaccinated before becoming pregnant.
Rubella symptoms
The main symptoms of rubella are:
- Fever up to 38º C;
- Red spots that initially appear on the face and behind the ear and then move towards the feet, for about 3 days;
- Feeling of general malaise;
- Swollen tongues, especially in the neck;
- Red eyes;
- Joint pain, this change being rarer to occur in children.
Rubella symptoms usually appear 12 to 21 days after contact with the virus. Rubella can affect children and adults and although it can be considered a childhood disease, it is not common for children under 4 years of age to have the disease. Learn more about the symptoms of rubella.
How the diagnosis is made
The initial diagnosis of rubella is made by the doctor based on the evaluation of the signs and symptoms presented by the person, in addition to recommending a blood test to check the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against rubella.
Generally, when you have IgM antibodies it means you have the infection, while the presence of IgG antibodies are more common in those who have had the disease in the past or in those who are vaccinated. Find out more about the rubella test.
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Cause of rubella
Rubella is a disease caused by a virus of the genus Rubivirus which can be transmitted through inhalation of droplets containing the virus or through direct contact with an infected person, and is more common during childhood.
Furthermore, rubella in children can be a consequence of the mother’s infection with the virus during pregnancy, so that the virus can cross the placental barrier to reach the fetus, causing changes according to gestational age.
Is rubella during pregnancy serious?
Although rubella is a relatively common and simple disease in childhood, when it appears during pregnancy it can cause malformations in the baby, especially if the pregnant woman has contact with the virus in the first 3 months. Some of the most common complications that can arise from rubella during pregnancy include autism, deafness, blindness or microcephaly, for example. See other possible complications of rubella during pregnancy.
Therefore, it is best for all women to be vaccinated during childhood or at least 1 month before becoming pregnant, to be protected against the virus.
Congenital rubella
Congenital rubella syndrome occurs in babies whose mother had contact with the rubella virus during pregnancy and who was not treated. A baby’s contact with the rubella virus can lead to several consequences, especially with regard to its development, as this virus is capable of causing calcifications in some regions of the brain, as well as deafness and vision problems, for example.
It is important that babies with congenital rubella undergo clinical treatments, surgeries and rehabilitation during childhood to improve their quality of life. Furthermore, as the disease can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions and urine for up to 1 year, it is recommended that they be kept away from other children who have not been vaccinated and start attending daycare from the first year of life or when doctors indicate that there is no longer any risk of transmitting the disease.
How the treatment is carried out
Rubella treatment aims to alleviate symptoms, with the doctor recommending taking painkillers and fever control medications, such as Paracetamol and Dipyrone. Furthermore, it is important to rest and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and to facilitate the elimination of the virus from the body.
In addition to medications, some precautions can also help alleviate discomfort during treatment, such as:
- Drink at least 2 liters of water per day;
- Maintain rest at home, avoiding going to work or public places;
- Use a humidifier in the room to make breathing easier, or place a basin with warm water in the room;
Some people may also experience discomfort and a lot of redness in their eyes. In these cases, you should avoid being exposed to direct sunlight, avoid spending a lot of time in front of the television and apply cold compresses to your eyes.
Rubella prevention
To prevent rubella, you must keep your vaccinations up to date and avoid contact with infected people. The rubella vaccine, also called triple viral, as it protects against rubella, mumps and measles, is indicated in the first year of life, and then the booster dose is given between 15 and 24 months. See more about the viral triple.
Women who plan to get pregnant should ask their doctor to do a test that checks their immunity against rubella, and if they are not immune, they should take the vaccine, remembering that you have to wait at least 1 month after the vaccine to get pregnant, and that this vaccine does not must be taken during pregnancy.
