Rubella

What is Rubella?
Rubella is an acute, contagious viral infection that occurs most often in children
The virus is transmitted through airborne droplets (i.e. when an individual coughs
or sneezes)
Humans are the only known host
There is no effective treatment for Rubella

Signs and Symptoms

The virus spreads throughout the body within 5-7 days
Symptoms appear 2-3 weeks after exposure:
Rash (Occurs in 50-80% of cases)
The rash normally lasts 1-3 days starting on the face and neck before
progressing down the body
Most infectious period is 1-5 days after rash appears
Low- grade fever
Nausea
Mild Conjunctivitis
Swollen lymph glands behind the ears and neck

Vaccination
Live attenuated strand
Rubella is most commonly used in combination with MR and MMR, although it can
be given in a single dose
The first vaccine is given at 12-15 months and the second vaccine is given at 4-6
years
Adverse reactions are generally mild but may cause some pain/ redness at injection
site, a low-grade fever, a rash and muscle aches

Rubella and Pregnancy

During pregnancy one cant receive the vaccine, so it is important to get screened at
least one month before getting pregnant to determine if you are immune to Rubella
If you get Rubella while pregnant you will see a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
(MFM) to discuss the risks associated with the pregnancy and the decision to
terminate
Women infected with the Rubella virus during the early stages of pregnancy (first
20 weeks) have a 90% chance of passing the virus on to her fetus which can result in
a miscarriage, a still birth and/or birth defects

Congenital Rubella Syndrome

During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy there is an 85% chance of the fetus
developing Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS)
Infants who have CRS may excrete the virus for a year or more through airborne
droplets
Infants can suffer from many birth defects including hearing impairment, eye
(blindness) and heart defects, learning disabilities, autism, diabetes mellitus and
thyroid dysfunction