Rubella treatment and possible complications

There is no specific treatment for rubella and, therefore, the virus needs to be eliminated naturally by the body. However, it is possible to use some remedies to relieve symptoms while recovering.

Some of the most used remedies include:

Remedies for fever, such as Paracetamol, Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen: help to lower body temperature and relieve headache; Antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, Neomycin or Ciprofloxacin: are not always necessary, but can be indicated if rubella-associated infections, such as pneumonia or ear infection, arise.

These drugs should always be guided by a pediatrician, in the case of the child, or by a general practitioner, in the case of the adult, since it is necessary to adjust the doses, especially in the case of children.

How to take vitamin A for rubella

The World Health Organization also recommends supplementation with vitamin A in children during a rubella attack, as this vitamin helps to decrease the severity of symptoms and prevents the onset of complications from the disease.

Recommended doses vary according to age:

Age	Indicated dose
Up to 6 months old	50, 000 IU
Between 6 to 11 months	100, 000 IU
12 months or more	200, 000 IU

How to recover faster

In addition to medication, some precautions can also help to relieve discomfort during treatment, such as:

Drink at least 2 liters of water a day, keep your home at rest, avoid going to work or in public places, use a humidifier in the room to facilitate breathing, or place a basin of warm water in the room;

Some people may also experience discomfort and a lot of redness in their eyes. In such cases, you should avoid being exposed to direct sunlight, avoid being in front of the television for a long time and apply cold compresses over your eyes.

Possible complications of rubella

Although rubella is a mild disease in children and adults, it can bring complications for pregnant women, such as arthritis in the fingers, wrists and knees, which usually lasts for about 1 month. In newborns, the disease can also cause problems such as:

Deafness; Mental deficiency; Heart, lung, liver or bone marrow problems; Cataracts; Growth stunts; Type 1 diabetes; Thyroid problems.

It is important to remember that the rubella consequences for babies are worse when the woman is infected with the disease until the 10th week of pregnancy, reducing the risk of problems when the disease appears after the 20th week. See the changes that can happen to the baby if the mother is affected during pregnancy.

How to prevent rubella

In order to prevent rubella, vaccination must be kept up to date and contact with infected persons avoided. Babies receive a rubella vaccine in the first year of life, and then the booster dose is given between 10 and 19 years old.

Women planning to become pregnant should ask the doctor to do the test that checks for rubella immunity, and if they are not immune they should get the vaccine, remembering that it is necessary to wait at least 1 month after the vaccine to get pregnant, and that this vaccine does not should be taken during pregnancy.