Rubella is a highly infectious virus that commonly affects children. It is also known as German measles. Rubella infection usually results in a mild illness for most people. However, if pregnant women are infected, especially in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, it can cause birth defects. The virus damages the developing heart, brain, eyes and ears of the foetus. This condition is called congenital rubella syndrome. The best protection against rubella is vaccination.
How It Spreads
Signs and Symptoms of Rubella
- A low-grade fever and swollen glands behind the ears, and at the back and sides of the neck.
- Loss of appetite, irritability, loss of interest in personal care.
- Rash, which appears in only about half the cases of rubella. When it does appear, it starts on the face and torso, and spreads to the arms and legs. The rash can last from 3 to 5 days.
Contagiousness
Complications
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Congenital Rubella Syndrome: Rubella becomes potentially serious when a woman is infected early in her pregnancy. This is because the virus can produce defects in the developing foetus.
If a mother contracts rubella in the first trimester of her pregnancy, there is a 25% chance of the baby being born with congenital rubella syndrome. Some of the defects include deafness, cataracts, microcephaly, mental retardation, and congenital heart defects. However, defects are rare if the infection occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy.
If a woman is unvaccinated, she may experience:
- miscarriage or stillbirth
- sore, swollen joints, and arthritis in the knees, wrists and fingers.
- brain infection called encephalitis, a rare but serious complication.
Treatment and Confinement
Care at Home
If your child has a fever, treat it as you normally would, such as ensuring your child gets plenty of fluids and rest. Cool sponging will help relieve the discomfort from the rash. You can give your child medication such as paracetamol to reduce the pain and fever. However consult your doctor before giving any fever-reducing medicine for the first time. Rubella is a viral infection so antibiotics will not be prescribed because they do not work on viral illnesses.
Remember to keep your child at home while any rash is visible, as well as for a week after the rash subsides to prevent the spread of Rubella virus to others.
Prevention
In Singapore, two doses of the MMR or MMRV vaccine are recommended for children. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine) or the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine) is given at 12 months and 15-18 months old.
At least three months before trying to become pregnant, a woman should have a blood test to see if the rubella antibodies are present; if not, she should be immunised or re-immunised with a measles vaccine.
Rubella vaccines are safe and have been used for many years to protect children and pregnant women against infection. They are about 97% effective at preventing rubella infection.
Click here for more information on subsidies available, other vaccine-preventable diseases and frequently asked questions.
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Contributed By
- Communicable Diseases Agency