RubellaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Rubella Overview
Learn About Rubella
Rubella, also known as the German measles, is an infection in which there is a rash on the skin.
Congenital rubella is when a pregnant woman with rubella passes it to her baby that is still in her womb (uterus).
Three day measles; German measles
Rubella is caused by a virus that is spread through the air or by close contact.
A person with rubella may spread the disease to others from 1 week before the rash begins, until 1 to 2 weeks after the rash disappears.
Because the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to most children, rubella is much less common now. Almost everyone who receives the vaccine has immunity to rubella. Immunity means that your body has built a defense to the rubella virus.
In some adults, the vaccine may wear off. This means they are not fully protected. Women who may become pregnant and other adults may receive a booster shot.
Children and adults who were never vaccinated against rubella may also get this infection.
Children generally have few symptoms. Adults may have a fever, headache, general discomfort (malaise), and a runny nose before the rash appears. They may not notice the symptoms.
Other symptoms may include:
- Bruising (rare)
- Inflammation of the eyes (bloodshot eyes)
- Muscle or joint pain
There is no treatment for this disease.
Taking acetaminophen can help reduce fever.
Birth defects that occur with congenital rubella syndrome can be treated.
Annette Mankertz practices in Berlin, Germany. Ms. Mankertz is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Rubella. Her top areas of expertise are Rubella, Mumps, Togaviridae Disease, and Parainfluenza.
Mayo Clinic-Rochester
Gregory Poland is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Poland is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Rubella. His top areas of expertise are Rubella, Togaviridae Disease, Smallpox, and Measles.
Claudia Claus practices in Leipzig, Germany. Ms. Claus is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Rubella. Her top areas of expertise are Rubella, Togaviridae Disease, and ECHO Virus.
Rubella is most often a mild infection.
After an infection, people have immunity to the disease for the rest of their lives.
Complications can occur in the unborn baby if the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. A miscarriage or stillbirth may occur. The child may be born with birth defects.
Contact your health care provider if:
- You are a woman of childbearing age and are unsure of whether you have been vaccinated against rubella
- You or your child develop a severe headache, stiff neck, earache, or vision problems during or after a case of rubella
- You or your child need to receive MMR immunization (vaccine)
There is a safe and effective vaccine to prevent rubella. The rubella vaccine is recommended for all children. It is routinely given when children are 12 to 15 months old, but is sometimes given earlier during epidemics. A second vaccination (booster) is routinely given to children ages 4 to 6. MMR is a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Women of childbearing age most often have a blood test to see if they have immunity to rubella. If they are not immune, women should avoid getting pregnant for 28 days after receiving the vaccine.
Those who should not get vaccinated include:
- Women who are pregnant.
- Anyone whose immune system is affected by cancer, corticosteroid medicines, or radiation treatment.
Great care is taken not to give the vaccine to a woman who is already pregnant. However, in the rare instances when pregnant women have been vaccinated, no problems have been detected in the infants.
Summary: The current recommendation for a full course of measles-mumps-rubella-(varicella) vaccine (MMR(V)) is two doses. The problem is, many individuals within the vaccinated cohort show antibody levels that are below the level considered to be protective, even after two doses of vaccine. Because of these waning antibody levels, it is currently unknown whether highly vaccinated populations are protected ...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether vYF (investigational vaccine) is safe and can help the body to develop antibodies (immunogenicity) compared with Stamaril vaccine and YF-VAX vaccine (both licensed vaccines) and when they are co-administered with Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccines in infants aged 11-15 months. Number of Participants: A total of 2440 participants is planned to be ...
Published Date: January 01, 2025
Published By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Gans HA. Rubella. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 294.
Michaels MG, Williams JV. Infectious diseases. In: Zitelli, BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, Garrison J, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 13.
Winter AK, Moss WJ. Rubella. Lancet. 2022;399(10332):1336-1346. PMID: 35367004 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35367004/.
Wodi AP, Murthy N, McNally VV, Daley MF, Cineas S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger - United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(1):6-10. PMID: 38206855 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38206855/.