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Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus. It's sometimes called "German measles," but the virus is different from the one that causes measles.
Rubella is no longer endemic — constantly present — in the United States, but it's common elsewhere and can be brought in by people infected abroad.
Symptoms
Rubella is usually mild, with few noticeable symptoms.
- In children who have symptoms, the first sign is usually a red rash on the face.
- Adults usually have a mild illness with a low-grade fever, a sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads over the body.
- Arthritis is a complication in up to 70% of women; it's rare in children and men.
More: rubella symptoms and complications.
Pregnancy
Anyone who isn't vaccinated can catch rubella — but it's most dangerous in pregnancy. A pregnant woman with rubella can pass it to her baby, causing miscarriage or serious birth defects. A baby born with rubella has congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which can affect almost every part of the baby's body. More: pregnancy and rubella.
How it spreads
Rubella spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
| Contagious | from up to 1 week before the rash to up to 7 days after |
| No symptoms | 25%–50% of people with rubella — who can still spread it |
If you have rubella, tell people — friends, family, co-workers, and especially anyone pregnant. If your child has it, tell their school or daycare.
Prevention: the MMR vaccine
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. It's very safe and effective: one dose is about 97% effective against rubella.
- Children should get 2 doses.
- Teens and adults should be up to date too.
More: rubella vaccination · how MMR vaccination eliminated rubella in the U.S. · global rubella vaccination.
Treatment
There's no specific medicine to cure rubella or speed recovery. Symptoms are often mild; otherwise bed rest and fever medicine such as acetaminophen help. If you're worried about your or your child's symptoms, call your doctor.
Sources
Based on "About Rubella," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licens: CC0 1.0 (allmän egendom) · Bearbetat efter www.cdc.gov
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