Rubella
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If you notice swollen lymph nodes and red, small-spotted rash all over your child's body, it is likely that your little explorer has contracted rubella. Rubella is considered a childhood disease, but adults can also become infected with the virus. Usually, the illness is mild, but it can also have serious consequences if an unborn baby becomes infected. In this article, you will learn what rubella actually is, how it is transmitted, and how vaccination can provide preventive protection.
What are rubella?
Triggered by the rubella viruses, also called rubella viruses, rubella is one of the typical childhood diseases, as it still mainly affects young children. It doesn't matter where in the world you are: the rubella viruses are worldwide widespread and infect exclusively humans. Additionally, the viruses highly contagious , which is why contact with infected persons almost always leads to illness – unless there is vaccination protection or immunity from a previous rubella infection.
How are rubella transmitted?
Rubella will be via droplet infection transmitted from person to person. The viruses enter the air through coughing, sneezing, or talking and can be transmitted to another non-immune person. Rubella infection can also occur through direct skin contact, such as kissing. The Incubation period In the case of rubella, the duration is very long compared to other diseases: first two to three weeks after infection, the first symptoms appear. However, those infected are contagious for a week even before the symptoms become visible. Even a week after the rash has disappeared, rubella is still contagious and can be transmitted.
Symptoms: What do rubella look like?
Rubella can, but does not have to, be accompanied by visible symptoms. About half of all rubella cases in young children occur without clear signs. This significantly contributes to the continued spread of the viral disease today. However, if symptoms do appear, then about 14 to 21 days after infection . But how does the disease progress?
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That your little explorer has been infected with the rubella virus, you can first tell by cold-like symptoms , increased temperature up to Fever and possibly even detect conjunctivitis. Additionally, the Lymph node Schwellung im Nacken und hinter den Ohren.
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The typical rubella rash, which is as reddish, small-spotted skin rash on the face, it first appears one to three days after the onset of the illness. Subsequently, the mottled skin rash also spreads to the legs, arms, abdomen, and back. The palate is also covered with painless, red spots. Unlike, for example, in Chickenpox , rubella rarely causes itching or not at all.
Even adults who are not vaccinated can become infected with rubella. The older the person affected, the more severe the symptoms can be. The following symptoms typically occur:
Fever
Headaches
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and at the back of the head
Stiff and swollen joints and joint pain
Rare: Middle ear infection
How is the childhood disease diagnosed and treated? If your little explorer, or perhaps even yourself, exhibits the mentioned symptoms, you should seek clarification see a doctor . The Diagnose a red coloration almost always occurs based on the symptoms presented . Since the rash is often difficult to
Since rubella is reportable, your pediatrician will report the illness to the health department. It is also important that you inform the daycare and your surroundings. This way, other children who have been in contact with your little explorer can see their doctor directly to determine or rule out an illness. Conversely, this means that your child can only return to the daycare once the skin rash has been gone for a week.
Rubella during pregnancy
Rubella during pregnancy can be very dangerous for your unborn child become. Especially when you, as an expectant mother, are between the first and 16th week of pregnancy When you contract rubella, the risk of rubella embryopathy is high. The rubella viruses then cross the Placenta to the baby. Possible ailments caused by your rubella infection for your child are Damage to the inner ear, heart, eye, and in severe cases, the brain, liver, or spleen . Also a Preterm birth or Miscarriage can be triggered by the infection. Whether your unborn baby has actually been infected with the rubella virus can be determined by a Analysis of amniotic fluid or fetal blood to be verified. Children who have contracted rubella in the womb are often contagious for over 12 months after birth . The rubella viruses can be transmitted during this time through their urine as well as nasal and throat secretions.
As an expectant mother, you should keep the following in mind:
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If you're not sure whether you've already had a rubella infection, you can have your blood tested for antibodies. If you're not immune, we recommend that you Get vaccinated before a planned pregnancy to leave. If a pregnancy already exists, vaccination is unfortunately no longer possible. , because it must be administered three months before conception.
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Should you already pregnant , but not immune to rubella, should you be the Avoid contact with the ill in any case .
Rubella vaccination: protection against mumps, measles, rubella
Most young children handle rubella infections very well. However, unborn babies should be especially protected from rubella viruses. This is only possible through the Immunity the expectant mother. She can either due to an illness or rubella vaccination can be achieved. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) also recommends the MMR vaccination, which covers the vaccines against Mumps , Measles and rubella combined. This way, you can protect yourself and your little explorer from three childhood diseases at once. In total, two cans of the vaccine administered. In children, the first vaccination takes place between the 11th and 14th month of life, and the second dose is given at the earliest four weeks later, between the 15th and 23rd month of life. As an adult, you can get vaccinated against rubella at any time, as long as you have not yet developed antibodies against the rubella virus. But how long does the rubella vaccination actually provide protection? Those who choose an MMR vaccination are lifelong immunity .
The MMR vaccination is generally well tolerated, which is why it may only cause the body's immune responses as side effects. These manifest as redness or swelling around the injection site, which typically subside after a few days.
The annual number of rubella cases in Germany is relatively low. Nevertheless, children and adults still become infected with rubella viruses – often without visible symptoms. Especially during pregnancy, you should avoid contact with infected persons, and if you are planning to become pregnant, it is advisable to check your immunity beforehand. If you or your little explorer do get affected, we wish you a speedy recovery!