Rubella

Rubella (or German measles) occurs worldwide and is normally a mild childhood disease. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 100,000 cases of rubella occur each year in developing countries.

If someone has rubella they usually feel unwell, with swollen glands and a slight temperature or sore throat. They may also develop a rash and have mild pain or discomfort in the joints. Some people may have no symptoms at all.

Rubella in pregnant women

Rubella is serious if caught by a pregnant woman, as it can be passed on and cause damage to her unborn child, who is said to have Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). When a woman is infected with the rubella virus early in pregnancy, she has a 90% chance of passing the virus on to her baby. When this happens, there is an increased risk of the baby developing multiple disabilities, particularly to the brain, heart, eyes and ears, and including deafblindness.

How it spreads

The rubella virus is found in the noses and throats of infected people. Direct contact with these secretions or exposure to the cough or sneeze of an infected person can spread the disease. In many developed and some developing countries, large-scale rubella vaccination during the past decade has drastically reduced or practically eliminated rubella and CRS.

How it is diagnosed

Some people may show no signs of having rubella at all, so the only way to correctly diagnose rubella is by having a blood test.