How is rubella transmitted

About half of the people who get rubella do not have symptoms. How is Rubella spread? Rubella spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. How long is a person contagious? Are there complications of Rubella? Is there treatment for Rubella? Always Practice Healthy Habits: Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, or turn away when coughing.

Immediately throw away used tissues, followed by careful hand washing. Avoid sharing objects if they have been in the mouth pacifiers, toys, silverware, etc. Rubella is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash.

It's also called German measles or three-day measles. While this infection may cause mild symptoms or even no symptoms in most people, it can cause serious problems for unborn babies whose mothers become infected during pregnancy.

Rubella isn't the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some symptoms, including the red rash. Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles, and rubella isn't as infectious or as severe as measles. In many countries, rubella infection is rare or even nonexistent. However, because the vaccine isn't used everywhere, the virus still causes serious problems for babies whose mothers are infected during pregnancy. The signs and symptoms of rubella are often difficult to notice, especially in children.

Signs and symptoms generally appear between two and three weeks after exposure to the virus. They usually last about one to five days and may include:. Contact your doctor if you think you or your child may have been exposed to rubella or if you have the signs or symptoms listed above.

If you're considering getting pregnant, check your vaccination record to make sure you've received your MMR vaccine. If you're pregnant and you develop rubella, especially during your first trimester, the virus can cause death or serious birth defects in the developing fetus. Rubella during pregnancy is the most common cause of congenital deafness.

It's best to be protected against rubella before pregnancy. If you're pregnant, you'll likely undergo a routine screening for immunity to rubella. But if you've never received the vaccine and you think you might have been exposed to rubella, contact your doctor immediately.

A blood test might confirm that you're already immune. Rubella is caused by a virus that's passed from person to person. It can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Fewer than five infants each year are diagnosed with congenital rubella syndrome.

Symptoms Babies born with congenital rubella syndrome may have some or all of the following symptoms: Heart problems Eye problems, including cataracts and glaucoma Intellectual disabilities Growth retardation Low birth weight Developmental delays Learning disabilities Deafness Diabetes Enlarged liver and spleen Skin lesions Bleeding Long-term outlook The long-term outlook for a child born with congenital rubella syndrome depends on the severity of the birth defects.

If you are already pregnant, DO NOT get the rubella vaccine, as it contains a live version of the virus. FAQ Q: What is congenital rubella syndrome? Babies born with congenital rubella syndrome may have severe birth defects.

Only 30 to 60 cases of rubella are documented each year in the United States. Q: How can congenital rubella syndrome be prevented? Q: How is congenital rubella syndrome diagnosed? A: Babies born with congenital rubella syndrome may have some or all of the following symptoms: Heart problems Eye problems, including cataracts and glaucoma Intellectual disabilities Growth retardation Low birth weight Developmental delays Learning disabilities Deafness Diabetes Enlarged liver and spleen Skin lesions Bleeding Q: What are our treatment options?

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