Rubella | German Measles
Rubella | German measles, in a viral infection that causes a red rash on the body. Aside from the rash, people with German measles usually have a fever and swollen lymph nodes. The infection can spread from person to person through contact with droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough. This means that you can get Rubella if you touch your mouth, nose or eyes after touching something that has droplets from an infected person on it. You may also get infected by sharing food or drinks with someone who is already infected.
Rubella mainly affects children, more commonly those between 5 and 9 years old, but it can also occur in adults.
Rubella | German measles is typically a mild infection that goes away within a week, even without treatment. However, it can be a serious condition in pregnant women, as it may cause congenital rubella syndrome in the fetus. Congenital rubella syndrome can disrupt the development of the baby and cause serious birth defects, such as heart abnormalities, deafness and brain damage.
Rubella | German measles not the same as measles, but the two illnesses share some symptoms, including the red rash.Rubella is caused by a different virus than measles and Rubella is not as infectious or as severe as measles.
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly effective in preventing rubella.
Symptoms-
The sign and symptoms of rubella are often difficult to notice, especially in children. Signs and symptoms generally appear between two and three weeks after exposure to the virus. They usually last about one to five days and may include –
• Mild fever of 102°F or lower
• Inflamed, red eyes
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Enlarged, tender lymph nodes at the base of the skull, the back of the neck and behind the ears.
• Headache
• Aching joints, especially in young women
• A fine, pink rash that begins on the face and quickly spreads to the trunk and then the arms and legs, before disappearing in the same sequence.
Causes –
Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus.This is a highly contagious that can spread through close contact or through the air. It may pass from person to person through contact with tiny drops of fluid from the nose and throat when sneezing and coughing. Rubella can also be transmitted from a pregnant women to her developing baby through the bloodstream. People who have measles are most contagious from the week before the rash appears until about two weeks after the rash goes away.
Risk Factors –
The rubella vaccine is usually given to children when they are between 12 and 15 months old, and then again when they are between ages 4 and 6. This means that infants and young toddlers who have not yet received all vaccines have a greater risk of getting rubella.
To avoid complications during pregnancy, many women who become pregnant are given a blood test to confirm immunity to rubella.
How does Rubella affect pregnant women?
Congenital rubella syndrome is a serious health concern, as it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. It can also cause birth defects in babies who are carried to term, including –
• delayed growth
• intellectual disabilities
• congenital heart defects
• deafness
• poorly functioning organs
• Cataracts
Women of childbearing age should have their immunity to rubella tested before becoming pregnant. If a vaccine is needed, it is important to get it at least 28 days before trying to conceive.
Diagnosis-
You may have a virus culture or a blood test, which can detect the presence of different types of rubella antibodies in your blood. These antibodies indicate whether you have had a recent or past infection or a rubella vaccine.
Treatment-
Most cases of Rubella are treated at home. Doctor may advice you to rest in bed and to take acetaminophen, which can help relieve discomfort from fever and aches.Doctor may also recommend that you stay home from work or school to prevent spreading the virus to others.
Pregnant women may be treated with antibodies called hyperimmune globulin that can fight off the virus. This can help reduce your symptoms.Babies who are born with congenital rubella will require treatment from a team of specialists.
Ayurvedic Perspective –
Rubella symptoms can be correlated to masurika and sannipataja jwara. Sannipataja (complication of all 3 doshas) occurs due to tridosha vriddhi and prakopa respectively. These lead to the classical infection and tissue invasion for which cell injury takes place and causes dhatu avarana and dhatu kshaya, with the initiation of the disease.
Ayurvedic Treatment-
There is no specific treatment for Rubella.The virus always runs its course and only supportive treatment is provided to prevent complications.Many a times, symptoms are very mild and no treatment is required except rest.
Diet recommendations-
• Light digestible food with warm water for drinking is recommended.
• If hungry, warn lentil soups and gruels (Cereals with oat, wheat,ryeflour and rice) with ghee can be given.
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[…] increase the risk of a baby being born with this condition as follows-1. Viral infection named rubella during pregnancy2. Alcoholism during pregnancy3. Poor nutrition during […]