Other Names:
Rubella

Symptoms:
Fatigue, coughing, headache, mild fever, muscle aches, and stiffness in the neck. A pink rash often develops 1-5 days later. It generally first appears on the face and neck, and the spreads to the rest of the body.

Cause:
As we mentioned earlier, there are two types of measles: common measles (rubeola) and German measles (rubella). Which see. Common measles is highly contagious, can have serious complications if cautions are not taken, but usually passes within 10 days. (See "Measles.")

But German measles (rubella) is different in certain ways. It is usually a mild contagious illness with a rapid recovery period (5-7 days). But it is dangerous if a woman contracts it during the first trimester (first 3 months) of her pregnancy. Then she might give birth to a child with heart defects, deafness, mental retardation, or blindness.

Therefore a pregnant woman must guard against exposure to it.

Treatment:
• Follow treatment specified for common measles (see "Measles").

What precautions should a woman take?

• A pregnant woman must avoid exposure to German measles. The disease should be considered contagious from 1 week before the rash appears until 1 week after the rash fades.

• If she thinks she has been exposed to the disease, she can immediately see a physician and request that she be given a gamma-globulin injection. If given soon after exposure, it may reduce the severity of the disease or possibly prevent it from occurring.

• Immunity to German measles can be determined by a special blood test. She may wish to be vaccinated. If this is done, pregnancy must be avoided for 3 months following immunization.

• Do not give aspirin to a child or youth with a fever; it may result in death! (See "Reye's Syndrome.")