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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What does rubella virus mean?

Rubella virus is the pathogen of rubella, belonging to single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses. Rubella virus can easily cause vertical transmission. If pregnant women are infected with rubella virus in the early stages of pregnancy, it may enter the fetus through the placental barrier, leading to stillbirth, miscarriage, or fetal deformities. The survival ability of rubella virus outside the human body is relatively weak. It is very sensitive to ultraviolet light, ether, and common disinfectants, which can generally kill the virus. After infection with rubella virus, the disease is self-limiting, and most cases can recover on their own in about two weeks, primarily through symptomatic treatment.

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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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What medicine is used to treat rubella virus?

Regarding the treatment of rubella, it mainly involves symptomatic treatment, and there are no specific antiviral drugs for treatment. Rubella is a self-limiting disease, most of which can fully recover without recurrence, and generally does not leave sequelae. After infection, a certain level of immunity is acquired, and if re-infected, the symptoms are usually milder or even asymptomatic. Generally, patients can recover in about two weeks. If there are obvious symptoms of fever and joint pain, symptomatic treatment can be carried out, such as using some antipyretics and pain relievers.

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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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How to treat rubella virus positive?

If the test for rubella virus is positive, there are no specific antiviral drugs available. Rubella is a self-limiting disease; most patients can fully recover on their own and it usually does not recur. Generally, most people can fully recover in about two weeks. In terms of treatment and management, it primarily involves addressing any complications. For example, antipyretic and analgesic medications can be used for significant fever. Any other discomfort needs symptomatic treatment. Generally, treatment should be based on the actual condition of the patient. Most patients can fully recover and usually do not need hospital treatment, but it is necessary to ensure proper isolation since the rubella virus can be transmitted to others through the air, droplets, or respiratory routes.