pediatrics
Rubella
Introduction
(See also Congenital Rubella .) Rubella is a viral infection that may cause adenopathy, rash, and sometimes constitutional symptoms, which are usually mild and brief. Infection during early pregnancy can cause spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or congenital defects. Diagnosis is usually clinical. Cases are reported to public health authorities. Treatment is usually unnecessary. Vaccination is effective for prevention. Rubella is caused by an RNA virus, which is spread by respiratory droplets through close contact or through the air. Patients can transmit rubella from 7 days before a rash appears until 15 days after onset of the rash; the period of greatest risk is from a few days before the rash appears to 7 days after onset of the rash. Some patients are asymptomatic, but they can transmit the virus. Congenital Rubella may transmit rubella for many months after birth. Rubella is less contagious than Measles . Immunity appears to be lifelong after natural infection. However, in unvaccinated populations, 10 to 15% of young adults have not had childhood infection and are susceptible. At present, incidence in the United States is extremely low because of routine childhood vaccination; all cases since 2004 have been imported. 