Rubella (German Measles): What pregnant mothers and children need to know

Every mother and father is scared when they suddenly see a red rash on their little one's body, right? They worry about measles, chickenpox, or some other allergy. Today, we are going to talk about a disease that also causes a rash, but which many people don't talk about much, and which can be very dangerous, especially for pregnant mothers. That is Rubella. Some people also call it "German measles."

Simply put, what is Rubella?

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus called RuV . Its main symptom is a red rash that appears on the body. This rash usually starts on the face and spreads to the entire body within about three days. That's why some people call it "three-day measles."

But the important thing here is that, although it is called "German measles", it is not the measles we usually know. Both diseases are caused by two completely different types of viruses. Rubella is usually not a serious condition if it occurs in a young child. However, if a pregnant mother contracts this disease, it can have very serious effects on the baby in the womb. Let's look at it in a little more detail.

The most dangerous side of rubella: Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS)

This is the most serious and dangerous form of rubella. Simply put, if a mother contracts rubella during pregnancy, the virus can be transmitted from the mother to her baby in the womb. This is what we call Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) .

If a mother contracts rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy, the baby is at high risk of developing CRS, which can cause serious health problems at birth.

What problems can a baby born with CRS have?

A child born with this condition may have one or more problems at birth.

What are the common symptoms of rubella?

In most cases, the first sign of rubella in young children is a rash. However, in adults and young children, other symptoms may appear a few days before the rash appears. Surprisingly, about 50% of people who are infected do not develop any symptoms. However, even if they do not have symptoms, they can still spread the disease to others.

These are the symptoms that are commonly seen:

• Red rash: Starts on the face and spreads downwards.
• Body temperature: Not too high, just a slight fever.
• Headache
• Pink eye
• Runny nose , like a cold
• Sore throat and cough
• Swollen lymph nodes: Swollen lymph nodes, especially behind the ears and in the neck.
• Joint pain: This is especially common among young women.
• Malaise

How is this disease transmitted? How long is it contagious?

Rubella is a disease that spreads easily from person to person. The virus is spread through droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and a healthy person can catch the disease by breathing in the air. It can also be spread by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching their nose, mouth, or eyes.

What does a rubella test during pregnancy show?

If you are planning to become pregnant, or are already pregnant, your doctor will likely ask you to have a blood test for rubella. This checks to see if you have antibodies in your body that can fight the rubella virus.

• If the test result is "Positive": It means that you have antibodies in your body. This means that you have had rubella before, or you have received the rubella vaccine (MMR). This is a good thing! It means that you are protected from rubella, so the risk of you getting the disease during pregnancy is very low.
• If the test result is "Negative": It means that you do not have antibodies against rubella. This means that you are at risk of developing the disease. If you are not pregnant, your doctor will advise you to get the MMR vaccine. You should avoid getting pregnant for at least a month after getting the vaccine. If you are already pregnant, you should completely stay away from places where rubella patients are present.

Diagnosis and treatment of rubella

If you or your child has symptoms of rubella, be sure to see a doctor. The doctor will examine you, look at the rash, and ask about your symptoms to try to diagnose the disease. They may also do tests like these to confirm the diagnosis:

• Blood tests: Check antibody levels.
• A swab test taken from the nose or throat
• A urine test

How is it treated?

There is no specific medicine to kill the rubella virus. This is a disease that usually resolves on its own within a few days. All we can do is control the symptoms.

• You can take a painkiller like Paracetamol for fever and pain. But always consult a doctor before giving any medicine to a child.
• Drink plenty of water and fluids.
• Rest well.
• To prevent spreading the disease to others, isolate yourself from others for at least a week after the rash appears.

The best way to prevent rubella: MMR vaccine

Vaccination is the best, safest, and most effective way to protect against rubella. Children are given the MMR vaccine under the National Immunization Program in Sri Lanka.

• MMR vaccine: This protects against all three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella.
• MMRV vaccine: This vaccine is also used in some countries. In addition to MMR, it also protects against chickenpox (Varicella/Chickenpox).

According to the national vaccination schedule in Sri Lanka, a child is usually given the first dose of MMR at 9 months of age and the second dose at 3 years of age. Completing both doses of these vaccines provides almost lifelong protection against rubella.

Who should not get the MMR vaccine?

The following people are generally not recommended to get the MMR vaccine. Talk to your doctor about this.

• People who have a severe allergy to anything contained in the vaccine.
• Pregnant women.
• People whose immune systems are weakened due to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, or medications they are taking.
• People with tuberculosis.
• People who have recently had a blood transfusion.

When should you see a doctor?

If you suspect that you or your child has symptoms of rubella, see a doctor immediately. Especially if you are pregnant and have been exposed to someone with rubella or if a rash has developed, don't delay.

When should you go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU)?

If you are a pregnant woman and experience one or more of the following symptoms, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately:

• Excessive bleeding
• Severe stomach pain
• Fever and chills

These could be signs of a miscarriage. Rubella can cause miscarriage.

Rubella, German Measles, pregnancy, MMR vaccine, congenital rubella syndrome, CRS, childhood diseases, rash