Rubella is a contagious disease, which is usually not serious, but causes symptoms such as red patches that itch a lot and that initially appear on the face and behind the ear and then go all over the body towards the feet.
The first symptoms of rubella are similar to the flu and are manifested by low fever, red and watery eyes, cough and nasal discharge. After 3 to 5 days, red spots appear on the skin that last for about 3 days.
Thus, the characteristic symptoms of rubella are:
- Fever up to 38ºC; Nasal discharge, coughing and sneezing; Headache; Malaise; Enlarged ganglia, especially near the neck; Conjunctivitis; Red spots on the skin that cause itching.
The phase of greatest risk of contagion involves the 7 days preceding the beginning of the appearance of spots on the skin and lasts up to 7 days after they appear.
The symptoms of rubella during pregnancy and in babies who were infected after birth are the same as those seen at any stage of life. However, when the mother is infected during pregnancy, the baby can be severely affected.
How to know if it is rubella
Generally, the diagnosis consists of a physical evaluation of the person, in which the doctor examines the person's skin, to see if there are skin rashes and evaluates other characteristic symptoms of the disease, such as white spots in the mouth, fever, cough and sore throat.
To find out if a person has rubella, one should observe the symptoms they have, checking if they have had the triple viral vaccine that protects them from this disease. If she has not been vaccinated, the doctor may order a blood test that identifies antibodies formed against Rubivirus , which causes Rubella. Although it is not frequent, some people who took the triple viral vaccine can also be infected with this disease, because the vaccine is only 95% effective.
All pregnant women who have had rubella or who have had the triple viral vaccine, while they did not know if they were pregnant, must undergo the tests indicated by the doctor to check fetal health and development, because exposure to the rubella virus during pregnancy can bring serious consequences for the baby. Know what these consequences are.
How to treat rubella
Rubella treatment consists of controlling the symptoms of the disease with Paracetamol, to reduce pain and fever, as well as rest and hydration so that the person will recover faster and isolated from contact with other family members. Your clothes and personal effects should be separated until the fever stops and the rashes go away.
Children who were born with congenital rubella, because they were contaminated during pregnancy, must be accompanied by a team of doctors, because there are several complications that may be present. Thus, in addition to the pediatrician, children should be seen by specialists and physiotherapists who can help with their motor and brain development.
Rubella prevention can be done through the application of the triple-viral vaccine, which protects against mumps, measles and rubella. This vaccine is part of the national vaccination schedule for children, but unvaccinated adults can also get this vaccine, with the exception of pregnant women. Know when the rubella vaccine can be dangerous.
