Is rubella a skin disease?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Rubella is an infectious disease that should be treated in the departments of Infectious Diseases rather than Dermatology. It is caused by the rubella virus and its typical clinical symptoms include fever, a rash all over the body, and swollen lymph nodes behind the ears and neck. Generally, the symptoms are mild and the course of the disease is short, with most patients having a good prognosis. However, if a pregnant woman is infected with rubella early in her pregnancy, it can severely affect the fetus, even causing congenital deformities or developmental delays. Rubella is a self-limiting disease, and currently, there is no specific medicine for rubella virus infection.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rubella virus require treatment?

Rubella virus generally does not have specific antiviral drugs, and treatment is mainly symptomatic. Most cases of rubella are relatively mild and many do not require treatment; full recovery usually occurs within about two weeks. For those presenting with noticeable fever and joint pain, symptomatic treatment can be provided, such as choosing some antipyretics or pain relievers. Generally, patients do not need hospital treatment. After recovery from the illness, relapse generally does not occur and one may acquire some immunity. Most patients do not have any sequelae, but pregnant women may face the risk of miscarriage or fetal malformation.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can you breastfeed with postpartum rubella?

When a mother develops rubella postpartum, she should not breastfeed her baby. This is because the rubella virus can be directly transmitted to the baby, affecting the baby's growth and development. Rubella virus is dangerous as it comes from respiratory infectious diseases. The patient is the only source of infection, mainly spreading through droplets, contact transmission, and mother-to-child transmission. Moreover, the incidence of rubella virus infection is very high in children aged five to six months, and the younger the age, the lower the body's resistance and the higher the incidence rate. Therefore, it is best for mothers to temporarily stop breastfeeding during the breastfeeding period.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What does it mean if rubella virus IgG antibodies are high before pregnancy?

Before pregnancy, it is generally necessary to undergo eugenic prenatal tests, and the rubella virus test is one of them. If the test shows that rubella virus IgG antibodies are elevated, this indicates that the patient has previously been infected with the virus or has been vaccinated against the rubella virus, and antibodies have been produced in the body, providing immunity to the virus. Therefore, when a rubella virus IgG is detected, the patient does not need to be particularly worried, as this result does not affect a normal pregnancy. Regardless of whether or not one has been vaccinated against rubella, it is advisable to avoid contact with children infected with rubella during early pregnancy to prevent contracting the rubella virus, which can affect the growth and development of the fetus.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What are the symptoms of rubella virus?

Rubella occurs after infection with the rubella virus, which is a contagious disease. The typical clinical symptoms are fever, rash, and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears and at the back of the head. Generally, the clinical symptoms are relatively mild, the course of the disease is relatively short, and the prognosis is mostly good. However, if a pregnant woman is infected in the early stages of pregnancy, it can potentially affect the growth and development of the fetus. Transmission can occur through ordinary droplets, respiratory transmission, or close contact between individuals. In terms of treatment, there are no specific drugs, and many patients can recover in about two weeks without treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Impact of Rubella Virus on the Fetus

During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman is infected with rubella virus, it poses a significant risk to the fetus, primarily causing congenital developmental abnormalities. For example, there may be cardiac malformations, congenital heart disease, cataracts, and deafness. Some may experience delayed brain damage during infancy after the baby is born, as well as diabetes or other central nervous system disorders. When rubella virus infection occurs, it is generally advised to consider terminating the pregnancy. The risk of fetal infection and congenital malformations is highest in early pregnancy, potentially exceeding 80%.