Rubella
Rubella is also known as German Measles. The ‘German’ part of the name is originally derived from ‘germane’, meaning that it is like measles. It actually has nothing to do with Germany.
The incubation period (the time when the infection is brewing but not evident, before illness starts) is 14 to 21 days. It is infectious from a few days before the symptoms start, until a week after the rash first appears.
The symptoms of rubella are initially like a mild cold. Then after a couple of days a pink rash appears. This is made up of extremely small and fine red spots. The rash often first appears on the face.
Rubella is a mild illness. Like measles, it is seen less and less often as the national immunisation program is effective in reducing it to a rarity.
The major complication of this disease is the malformations that occur in unborn babies if an infected pregnant mother is not immune. It is therefore important to keep a child with suspected rubella away from anyone who is pregnant until a week after the rash appears. If contact has occurred during the infectious period, the pregnant woman should have a blood test to check whether or not she is immune. This may already have been done as part of antenatal screening, but it is important to check.
What to do
- Comfort your child and give lots of drinks
- Keep your child away from anyone who may be pregnant
