Download Rubella Clinical Signs and Symptoms

Rubella
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
Rubella
Rubella (German measles) is an infectious acute viral
disease resulting from infection with rubella virus.
Rubella is transmitted via respiratory droplets, or direct
contact with nasal/throat secretions, from infected
individuals.
The incubation period is 12-23 days, usually14 days until
appearance of rash.
Individuals may be infectious 7 days before to 14 days
after rash onset.
Rubella
The EU clinical case definition for rubella is:
Clinical picture compatible with rubella, e.g. acute onset of
generalized maculopapular rash and arthralgia/arthritis,
lymphadenopathy, or conjunctivitis.
Rubella
Clinical course of infection
Rubella is generally a mild illness
Rubella rash, a maculopapular exanthema, develops after a 14-17 day
incubation period, usually on face, spreading spread head to foot. It
typically lasts 3 days. The rash is fainter than for measles and does not
coalesce.
A prodromal illness of fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy, and upper
respiratory symptoms may precede rash, in older children and adults,
but is usually absent in younger children.
Arthralgia and Arthritis occur frequently in adult women (70%).
Up to 50% of rubella cases may be sub-clinical or assymptomatic.
Rubella complications
• Encephalitis (1 in 6000)
• Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP; Condition affecting blood
clotting) (1 in 3000)
Birth defects
• Major birth defects, affecting all vital organs, highly likely if rubella
acquired in early pregnancy.
• These include learning difficulties, cataracts, deafness, cardiac
abnormalities, retardation of intrauterine growth and inflammation of
lesions of brain, liver, lungs and bone marrow.
• Maternal rubella in first 10 weeks pregnancy result in fetal damage
for up to 90% infants, and multiple defects common (Congenital
Rubella Syndrome). Risk of damage declines to 10-20% by 16 weeks.
Rubella between 16-20 weeks carries minimal risk of deafness only.
Characteristic maculopapular rash indicative of rubella
Rubella rash, a maculopapular exanthema, develops after a 14-17 day incubation period, usually on
face, spreading spread head to foot. It typically lasts 3 days. The rash is fainter than for measles and
does not coalesce.
Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Patient with face rash due to rubella
Rubella rash, a maculopapular exanthema, develops after a 14-17 day incubation period, usually
on face, spreading spread head to foot. It typically lasts 3 days. The rash is fainter than for
measles and does not coalesce.
Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Neck of male patient with rubella
Rubella rash, a maculopapular exanthema, develops after a 14-17 day incubation period, usually
on face, spreading spread head to foot. It typically lasts 3 days. The rash is fainter than for
measles and does not coalesce.
Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Characteristic maculopapular rash indicative of rubella
Rubella rash, a maculopapular exanthema, develops after a 14-17 day incubation period, usually on
face, spreading spread head to foot. It typically lasts 3 days. The rash is fainter than for measles and
does not coalesce.
Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Rash of rubella on skin of child's back
Rubella rash, a maculopapular exanthema, develops after a 14-17 day incubation period, usually on
face, spreading spread head to foot. It typically lasts 3 days. The rash is fainter than for measles and
does not coalesce.
Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention