Rubella

This article is about the disease. For other uses, see Rubella (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with either rubeola or roseola, which are also viral diseases with comparable features.
Rubella
Other namesGerman measles, three-day measles
A rash due to rubella on a child's back. The area affected is similar to that of measles but the rash is less intensely red.
SpecialtyInfectious disease
SymptomsRash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, sore throat, feeling tired[1][2]
ComplicationsTesticular swelling, inflammation of nerves, congenital rubella syndrome, miscarriage[1][3]
Usual onset2 weeks after exposure[1]
Duration3 days[1]
CausesRubella virus (spread through the air)[3][4]
Diagnostic methodFinding the virus in the blood, throat, or urine, antibody tests[1]
PreventionRubella vaccine[3]
TreatmentSupportive care[2]
Frequency17,865 cases (2022) [5]

Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles,[6] is an infection caused by the rubella virus.[3] This disease is often mild, with half of people not realizing that they are infected.[1][7] A rash may start around two weeks after exposure and last for three days.[1] It usually starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.[1] The rash is sometimes itchy and is not as bright as that of measles.[1] Swollen lymph nodes are common and may last a few weeks.[1] A fever, sore throat, and fatigue may also occur.[1][2] Joint pain is common in adults.[1] Complications may include bleeding problems, testicular swelling, encephalitis, and inflammation of nerves.[1] Infection during early pregnancy may result in a miscarriage or a child born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).[3] Symptoms of CRS manifest as problems with the eyes such as cataracts, deafness, as well as affecting the heart and brain.[3] Problems are rare after the 20th week of pregnancy.[3]

Rubella is usually spread from one person to the next through the air via coughs of people who are infected.[3][4] People are infectious during the week before and after the appearance of the rash.[1] Babies with CRS may spread the virus for more than a year.[1] Only humans are infected.[3] Insects do not spread the disease.[1] Once recovered, people are immune to future infections.[3] Testing is available that can verify immunity.[3] Diagnosis is confirmed by finding the virus in the blood, throat, or urine.[1] Testing the blood for antibodies may also be useful.[1]

Rubella is preventable with the rubella vaccine with a single dose being more than 95% effective.[3] Often it is given in combination with the measles vaccine and mumps vaccine, known as the MMR vaccine.[1] When some, but less than 80%, of a population is vaccinated, more women may reach childbearing age without developing immunity by infection or vaccination, thus possibly raising CRS rates.[3] Once infected there is no specific treatment.[2]

Rubella is a common infection in many areas of the world.[2] Each year about 100,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome occur.[3] Rates of disease have decreased in many areas as a result of vaccination.[2][7] There are ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease globally.[3] In April 2015, the World Health Organization declared the Americas free of rubella transmission.[8][9] The name "rubella" is from Latin and means little red.[1] It was first described as a separate disease by German physicians in 1814, resulting in the name "German measles".[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Atkinson W (2011). Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (12 ed.). Public Health Foundation. pp. 301–323. ISBN 978-0-9832631-3-5. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  2. ^ a b c d e f McLean H (2014). "3 Infectious Diseases Related To Travel". CDC health information for international travel 2014 : the yellow book. Oup USA. ISBN 978-0-19-994849-9. Archived from the original on 2015-04-24 – via cdc.gov.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lambert N, Strebel P, Orenstein W, Icenogle J, Poland GA (7 January 2015). "Rubella". Lancet. 385 (9984): 2297–307. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60539-0. PMC 4514442. PMID 25576992.
  4. ^ a b "Rubella (German Measles, Three-Day Measles)". CDC.gov. US: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Rubella". World Health Organization (WHO). 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  6. ^ Neighbors M, Tannehill-Jones R (2010). "Childhood diseases and disorders". Human diseases (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, New York: Delmar, Cengage Learning. pp. 457–79. ISBN 978-1-4354-2751-8.
  7. ^ a b "Rubella vaccines: WHO position paper" (PDF). Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 86 (29): 301–16. 15 July 2011. PMID 21766537. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2015.
  8. ^ Donald G. McNeil Jr. (April 29, 2015). "Rubella Has Been Eliminated From the Americas, Health Officials Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  9. ^ "Americas region is declared the world's first to eliminate rubella". PAHO.org. Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.