5 Things You Need to Know About Rubella

1. German Measles

Rubella is German measles or "three-day measles." It's an inflammation that afflicts the skin and the lymph nodes. It is less severe than the measles and is caused by the rubella virus. This virus affected elementary aged children before a vaccine was developed. Cases of rubella in children are greatly decreased, but it still affects more adults here in the United States and those living in non-immunized countries.

2. Contagious Yet Symptom Free

The rubella virus spreads when others breathe in mucus expelled from the nose and throat of an infected person. Pregnant women transmit the virus to their unborn babies through their bloodstream. This causes congenital rubella syndrome. If she gets infected during the first 20 weeks of her pregnancy, the risk to her baby is great. Complications of this syndrome are growth and mental retardation, a malformed heart and eyes, deafness, and liver, spleen and bone marrow issues. Rubella is most contagious from about a week before to a week or two after the start of the skin rash. The virus is still contagious when no symptoms are present. Infected babies may spread the measles through their mucus and their urine beyond the first year of their life.

3. A Rash of Spots

The virus begins with a low-grade fever and swollen lymph nodes behind the ears or on the back of the neck. Rubella causes a rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body. As it progresses downward, the face clears. Your child's rash looks like light red or pink spots. Although the rash lasts a few days, it itches. Other symptoms include headache, muscle/joint pain, loss of appetite, runny or stuffy nose and red, inflamed eyes. Contact your pediatrician if your child's fever reaches 102 degrees or higher, or if their symptoms worsen. Some have experienced brain swelling or ear infections. It is possible to not have any symptoms and still have rubella.

4. Home Care Remedies

A blood test or virus culture tells your child's doctor if there are rubella antibodies in their blood and whether these are a product of an infection or the vaccine. The virus doesn't require a prescription for treatment. Bed rest and Tylenol usually do the trick. It runs its course and then it's over in about a week. The recovery period is longer in adults than in children.

5. Getting Vaccinated

Rubella is like the chicken pox in that once you have it; you're immune and can't catch it again. For the first six to eight months of their lives, babies are immune if their moms have been previously vaccinated. The first vaccination is between ages 12 to 15 months with the second vaccination between ages four and six years. Six months of age is the youngest that your child can be vaccinated. The vaccine called MMR is for measles, mumps and rubella. Side effects include a fever and/or possibly a rash. Pregnant women and women trying to get pregnant should not be vaccinated. They can get immunized afterwards to avoid complications with future pregnancies.