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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Is rubella virus positive contagious?

If the rubella virus is positive, it is contagious and can be transmitted through general airborne droplets and respiratory routes, as well as through general contact. Patients with rubella or carriers of the rubella virus are the main sources of infection. The incubation period for rubella is generally around two weeks, after which symptoms may appear. Rubella is a self-limiting disease, and there are no specific antiviral drugs available, so symptomatic treatment is generally required. For mild cases, isolation at home is typically sufficient; however, severe cases may require hospitalization and mainly symptomatic treatment. If there is significant fever, antipyretic analgesics may be used for management.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is there a difference between urticaria and rubella?

Urticaria and rubella are quite different; rubella is a contagious disease caused by a viral infection, commonly seen in children. It can be transmitted through droplets and contact, and symptomatic treatment is usually adopted. In contrast, urticaria is an allergic skin disease with a still unclear and complex etiology, often treated with anti-allergy methods.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Rubella Virus Infection Treatment Methods

Rubella is actually an acute self-limiting disease. There are no specific antiviral drugs after infection with the rubella virus; treatment is primarily symptomatic. Most cases of rubella recover completely within about two weeks. If there is significant fever or severe joint pain, symptomatic treatment can be administered, such as using antipyretics and pain relievers. Generally, hospitalization is not necessary for patients. Rubella is a self-limiting disease and most can recover completely. Generally, it does not recur. After infection, a certain degree of immunity is acquired, but it can still be re-infected in the future. However, symptoms in subsequent infections are usually mild, and many have no symptoms at all.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rubella virus affect pregnancy?

A positive rubella virus infection indeed affects pregnancy, as the rubella virus can enter the fetus through the placental barrier, thereby easily leading to stillbirth, miscarriage, and fetal deformities. Therefore, if women of childbearing age are infected with the rubella virus, they should not get pregnant at this time. It is safer to wait until the condition has fully improved before attempting to conceive. In the early stages of pregnancy, if infected with the rubella virus, a decision on whether to continue the pregnancy should be made under the comprehensive assessment of an infectious disease specialist and an obstetrician/gynecologist, taking into account the actual situation for appropriate treatment and management.

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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.