Rubella is most common amongst schoolchildren under the age of 13 years. It is often a very mild illness in young children, and may pass unrecognised. It is only serious if a woman contracts rubella in the early stages of pregnancy, where it may cause abnormalities of the newborn baby.
Cause
Rubella is caused by a virus which is spread through personal contact, or by coughing and sneezing.
Clinical features
The incubation period is from 2-3 weeks, and the child is infectious for about a week after the appearance of the rash. The onset of the illness is rather like a mild cold, with slight fever or sore throat and enlarged lymph glands in the neck. The characteristic rash then appears 2-3 days later. It starts on the face and then spreads to the trunk. Initially the spots are pale pink, and gradually merge to form patches. The rash only lasts for a few days and then disappears completely.
There is no specific treatment for rubella, aside from the relief of symptoms. Paracetamol can be given according to directions for fever. Keep your child at home until the illness has well and truly passed, to avoid infecting others.
Prevention
Routine immunisation against rubella is given to children in combination with the measles and mumps vaccine. Girls are reimmunised at around 14 years of age.
Children who have a rubella infection MUST be kept away from pregnant women, as the virus can severely harm the foetus if the woman catches it.
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