Does rubella virus affect pregnancy?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 05, 2024
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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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Is rubella a skin disease?

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 the blood test for rubella virus require fasting?

During the examination for rubella, blood can be drawn to test for rubella virus-specific antibodies IgG and IgM. It is best to conduct these tests on an empty stomach as fasting results are more accurate. Additionally, rubella virus can be isolated from some of the nasal secretions of the patient, though this test is more expensive and less commonly used. Rubella is a self-limiting disease; if IgM is found positive through rubella antibody testing, rubella can be confirmed and symptomatic treatment should be administered. There is no specific antiviral medication for the rubella virus.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Symptoms of Rubella Virus Infection

After infection with the rubella virus, the disease that develops is rubella. The rubella virus can be transmitted through ordinary airborne droplets and respiratory routes, and it can also be transmitted through close contact between people. The typical clinical symptoms include fever, a rash all over the body, and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears and at the back of the head. The clinical symptoms are relatively mild, the course of the disease is short, and the prognosis is good. However, if a pregnant woman is infected during the early stages of pregnancy, it can lead to severe consequences such as fetal deformities. In terms of treatment, it mainly involves symptomatic treatment and rest, with most people fully recovering in about two weeks.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Can you get pregnant if you test positive for rubella virus?

A positive rubella virus test requires attention as to which specific indicator is positive. If the IgM is positive, then it is certain that pregnancy should be avoided. If the IgM is negative and the IgG is positive, it indicates past infection with rubella virus. There is currently no rubella virus infection in the body, and the presence of rubella virus IgG offers protective effects, preventing the virus from infecting again. Thus, under this circumstance, pregnancy can proceed normally. Rubella is a self-limiting disease, and during an infection, pregnancy should not occur because the rubella virus can pass through the placental barrier into the fetus, potentially causing restrictions in fetal growth and development.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What department should I go to for rubella virus testing?

If testing for rubella virus, it is best to consult the Department of Infectious Diseases or the Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. Rubella virus-specific antibody IgM can be detected through blood tests, or the virus can be isolated from the patient's nasopharyngeal secretions. For pregnant women, the presence of the rubella virus in the amniotic fluid can be examined to diagnose whether the fetus has contracted the infection. After rubella virus infection, there are no specific antiviral drugs available; treatment mainly involves symptomatic care. Rubella itself is a self-limiting disease, which usually fully recovers in about two weeks.