Rubella how does it spread

Error: This is required. Error: Not a valid value. Rubella is a contagious disease and is also known as German measles or three-day measles. It is not, however, the same disease as measles.

Rubella is caused by the rubella virus, which is uncommon among Australian children because of our effective vaccination program.

Rubella is a mild disease, and is not usually dangerous for children, but can be very dangerous for pregnant women , as rubella can cause miscarriage or abnormalities for their unborn babies. The best-known symptom of rubella is a pink or red rash. The rash may appear in the form of many small dots which together form a larger, reddened area. It can last for up to 5 days and may or may not be itchy.

As the rash begins to fade, it may start to flake. Symptoms generally begin to show between 14 and 21 days after a child has been infected with the virus. However, 1 in 2 people who have rubella do not show any symptoms at all, so your child may have rubella without showing or feeling any signs or symptoms.

Rubella spreads through exposure to the droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can travel through the air and contaminate others. A child who has rubella can infect others from 1 week before the rash is visible, up until 1 week after the rash appears. To prevent the spread of the virus, it is important to keep a sick child at home and away from other children. If your child has rubella, do not send them to childcare, kindergarten or school where they could infect others.

Try and teach your child the importance of sneezing and coughing into their elbow since this helps prevent the spread of the virus. It is especially important to keep a child who may be sick with rubella away from pregnant woman because the virus can be very dangerous for their unborn baby. Ensure that you and your family are observing good hygiene practices, including washing hands both properly and frequently.

While there is no specific treatment for rubella, it is important to give your child lots of fluids and allow them to rest. You can give your child paracetamol to help relieve discomfort, pain or fever. If you think your child has rubella, you should take them to see a doctor to confirm a diagnosis. Rubella German measles in pregnancy What is rubella? What are the symptoms of rubella? Symptoms may include: A low-grade fever and mild aches and pains, sometimes red eyes.

A rash of pink or light red spots that start on the face and spread down to the rest of the body. Neck glands may swell up and feel tender, especially behind the ears.

How is rubella spread? Rubella is most contagious a few days before and after the rash appears. What about pregnant women and rubella? If a pregnant woman gets rubella during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, she usually passes the disease on to her unborn baby.

If a child requires protection from rubella before 12 months of age — for example, for certain foreign travel — the vaccine can be given as early as 6 months of age. But children who are vaccinated early still need to be vaccinated at the recommended ages later. Widespread concerns have been raised about a possible link between the MMR vaccine and autism. However, extensive reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academy of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conclude that there is no scientifically proven link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

There is also no scientific benefit to separating the vaccines. These organizations note that autism is often identified in toddlers between the ages of 18 and 30 months, which is about the time children are given their first MMR vaccine. But this coincidence in timing typically shouldn't be mistaken for a cause-and-effect relationship. You typically should get a vaccine if you don't fit the criteria listed above and you:. If you have cancer, a blood disorder or another disease, or you take medication that affects your immune system, talk to your doctor before getting an MMR vaccine.

If you've been exposed to the virus that causes rubella, you can help keep friends, family and co-workers safe by telling them about your diagnosis. If your child has rubella, let the school or child care provider know.

Most people experience no side effects from the vaccine. Some teens and adult women experience temporary joint pain or stiffness after receiving the vaccine. Fewer than 1 out of 1 million doses causes a serious allergic reaction.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Rubella Open pop-up dialog box Close. Rubella Rubella results in a fine, pink rash that appears on the face, the trunk shown in image , and then the arms and legs. A person with rubella may spread the disease to others up to one week before the rash appears, and remain contagious up to 7 days after.

People infected with rubella should tell friends, family, and people they work with, especially pregnant women, if they have rubella. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.