Rubella

What is rubella?

Rubella, also known as German measles is a viral disease characterised by rash, swollen glands and fever. The disease is usually mild and of little significance unless you are pregnant. Infection of a pregnant woman (congenital rubella syndrome) commonly results in miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth of an infant with major birth abnormalities.

How common is rubella?

Rubella is now rarely seen in countries where rubella vaccination is part of their routine immunisation programme. In countries that do not have immunisation programmes in place, rubella continues to be a mild childhood illness that may even pass un-noticed. The major burden is congenital rubella syndrome and its devastating effects to the unborn foetus.

How is rubella spread?

Rubella is spread from person to person through direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected individuals. An infected person is contagious from 7 days prior to the rash appearing until 7 days later. Patients are most contagious when the rash is erupting. Children and adults with rubella should avoid attending childcare facilities, school, work or other public places during their infectious period. An acute infection of rubella almost always confers lifelong immunity.

What are the signs and symptoms of rubella?

In 25-50% of rubella cases the disease is usually so mild there may be few or no signs or symptoms. In typical cases the incubation period is between 12-23 days, most people show symptoms within 16-18 days after exposure. Common symptoms include:

• Slight fever, sore throat, runny nose and malaise (may occur prior to appearance of rash, more so in adults than in children).
• Rash begins on the face that spreads to the neck, trunk and extremities.
  • Appear as pink or light red spots about 2-3mm in size.
  • Lasts up to 5 days (average is 3 days).
  • May or may not be itchy.
  • As rash passes, affected skin may shed in flakes.
  • Usually not as widespread as in measles.
• Tender or swollen glands almost always accompany rubella, most commonly behind the ears and at the back of the neck.

Rubella

Other symptoms include pain and swelling in joints (arthralgia and arthritis). This is more common is adults, particularly women and may persist longer than 2 weeks. In some cases arthritis may become chronic and persist for months or years.

How is rubella diagnosed?

Because rubella is usually mild and self-limiting, diagnosis in healthy children is based on the characteristic history and physical examination. Diagnosis in adults, particularly women of childbearing age, should be confirmed with laboratory testing, as one based on clinical presentation alone is unreliable. Rubella virus can be isolated from throat swabs, blood, urine and spinal fluid.

What is the treatment of rubella?

There is no specific treatment for rubella. The disease is usually mild and self-limiting. Rest, maintaining fluid intake and possibly paracetamol for fever, discomfort or joint pains is all that is usually required.

What are the complications from rubella?

Complications are rare with rubella in healthy infants and adults. Congenital rubella syndrome is the most severe and important complication of rubella. Infection in the first trimester of pregnancy comes with a 50% chance of the infant being affected in some way.

Congenital rubella is one of the causes of the blueberry muffin syndrome.

How to prevent rubella or congenital rubella syndrome

Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome can be prevented by vaccination with live rubella vaccine. Combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is currently part of routine immunisation programmes in most industrialised countries, including New Zealand.

Rubella vaccine induces long-term (probably life-long) immunity in most individuals. Vaccination schedules recommend a two-dose immunisation strategy, the first dose at 12-15 months, followed by a second dose at 4-6 years.

Women of childbearing age should have their immunity status determined by a blood test before attempting to conceive. Rubella vaccine should be given if they have no antibodies to rubella virus, after which there should be at least a 3-month period before trying to conceive.