Rubella

[Sarah]

An acute specific disease with a dusky red cutaneous eruptionresembling that of measles, but unattended by catarrhal symptoms; --called also German measles.

[Sarah]

When your rubbies get bells on them.

[Justin Bieber]

Rubella is a contagious viral infection that typically causes mild symptoms, such as joint pain and a rash, but can cause severe birth defects if the mother becomes infected with rubella during pregnancy.

Rubella is caused by a virus.
Typical symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, rose-colored spots on the roof of the mouth, and a characteristic rash.
The diagnosis is based on symptoms.
Routine vaccination can prevent rubella.
Treatment of rubella is aimed at relieving the symptoms.

(See also Rubella in Newborns.)
Rubella is a typically mild childhood infection that may, however, have devastating consequences for infants infected before birth. A woman infected during the first 16 weeks (particularly the first 8 to 10 weeks) of pregnancy often passes the infection to the fetus. This fetal infection causes miscarriage, stillbirth, or multiple, severe birth defects in the infant (referred to as congenital rubella syndrome).
Rubella used to be called

[Monty]

A contagious viral disease, with symptoms like mild measles. It can cause fetal malformation if contracted in early pregnancy.

[Lanell]

(See also Congenital Rubella.)
Rubella is a contagious viral infection that may cause adenopathy, rash, and sometimes constitutional symptoms, which are usually mild and brief. Infection during early pregnancy can cause spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or congenital defects. Diagnosis is usually clinical. Cases are reported to public health authorities. Treatment is usually unnecessary. Vaccination is effective for prevention.
Most viruses that infect humans can affect both adults and children and are discussed elsewhere in THE MANUAL. Viruses with specific effects on neonates are discussed in Infections in Neonates. This chapter covers viral infections that are typically acquired during childhood (although many may also affect adults).
Rubella is caused by an RNA virus, rubella virus, which is spread by respiratory droplets through close contact or through the air. Patients can transmit rubella during asymptomatic infection or from 7 days before the rash appears until 15 days after onset of the rash; the period of greatest risk is from a few days before the rash appears to 7 days after onset of the rash. Congenitally infected infants may transmit rubella for many months after birth.
Rubella is less contagious than measles. Immunity appears to be lifelong after natural infection. However, in unvaccinated populations, 10 to 15% of young adults have not had childhood infection and are susceptible. At present, incidence in the US is at a historic low because of routine childhood vaccination; all cases since 2004 have been linked to importation.

[Tariq Zaki]

→  German measles