German Measles or Rubella is a viral infection characterized by a red rash on the skin. Although both cause a red rash on the skin, rubella is different from measles. Apart from being caused by a different virus, the effects of measles are generally more severe than that of rubella.
Although relatively mild, rubella can infect pregnant women, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. This condition can lead to miscarriage, or if the pregnancy continues, the baby may be born deaf, develop cataracts, or develop heart defects.
Therefore, it is important to check the body's immunity to rubella when planning a pregnancy.
Causes of Rubella
Rubella is caused by a viral infection that is transmitted from one person to another. A person can get rubella when they inhale the saliva splashes released by the sufferer when coughing or sneezing. Direct contact with objects contaminated with the patient's saliva also allows a person to develop rubella.
In addition to the several ways above, the rubella virus can also be transmitted from pregnant women to the fetus they contain, through the bloodstream.
SymptomRubella
Symptoms of rubella appear 2 to 3 weeks after exposure to the virus, and can last for 1-5 days. Symptoms include:
- A red rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the trunk and legs.
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Runny nose and stuffy nose.
- No appetite.
- Red eye.
- Joint pain, especially in adolescent girls.
- Lumps appear around the ears and neck, due to swollen lymph nodes.
Symptoms caused by rubella are usually mild, making it difficult to detect. However, once a person is infected, the virus will spread throughout the body within 5-7 days. The period that is most susceptible to transmitting this disease to others is on the first day to the fifth day after the rash appears.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if the above symptoms appear, especially if you are pregnant.
Although rare, rubella can trigger ear infections and brain swelling. Therefore, immediately see a doctor if other symptoms appear in the form of persistent headaches, pain in the ears, and stiffness in the neck.
Rubella Diagnosis
The reddish rash caused by rubella, which is a pink, inconspicuous rash, has similarities to several other skin diseases. To confirm the diagnosis of rubella, the doctor will perform a blood test to detect the presence of rubella antibodies.
The presence of rubella antibodies in the blood is a sign that a person is or has been infected with rubella. However, the presence of these antibodies can also indicate that the patient has received rubella immunization.
Treatment Rubella
Treatment for rubella is enough to do at home, because the symptoms are relatively mild. The doctor will prescribe medicine paracetamol to relieve pain and fever, and advise patients to rest at home a lot, so that the virus does not spread to other people.
In pregnant women who suffer from rubella, the doctor may prescribe antibodies hyperimmune globulin to fight viruses. Although they can reduce symptoms, antivirals do not prevent the baby from developing congenital rubella syndrome, a condition that causes babies to be born with abnormalities.
Rubella Complications
Rubella is classified as a mild infection, and usually only attacks once in a lifetime. However, rubella can have a more serious impact on pregnant women. This condition can cause pregnant women to miscarry or trigger congenital rubella syndrome in the fetus.
Congenital rubella syndrome is known to affect more than 80% of infants, from mothers infected with rubella at 12 weeks of gestation. Congenital rubella syndrome is very dangerous because it can cause birth defects, such as deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and growth disorders.
Rubella Prevention
Rubella can be prevented by MMR or MR immunization. In addition to providing protection against rubella, the MMR vaccine can also prevent mumps and measles. The MR vaccine does not protect against mumps. More than 90% of MMR vaccine recipients will be immune to rubella.
MMR immunization is recommended to be done twice, namely at the age of 15 months and 5 years. In people who have never received the MMR immunization, this vaccine can be given at any time.
Women who are planning a pregnancy are recommended to undergo a blood test. If the test results show no immunity to rubella, the MMR vaccine will be given, and at least one month later you can get pregnant. This vaccine should not be given while pregnant.
If there is contact with a person with rubella or suspect that they have been exposed to the rubella virus, pregnant women need to immediately see a gynecologist for examination.