- Infection caused by a virus
Signs and Symptoms
- It can take from 14 – 21 days to develop Rubella after exposure.
- The infection usually begins with a low-grade fever, swelling of the glands in the neck and behind the ears, and a rash with small red spots.
Spread
- Usually spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks.
- Can be spread by touch (hand contact).
- It is highly contagious for 7 days before, and up to 7 days after the rash develops.
Treatment
- There is no “cure” but can be managed with bed rest, fluids and fever reduction
- Antibiotics do not work in treating Rubella.
Complications
- It can create serious problems for pregnant women, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Prevention
- There is a vaccine for Rubella, the MMR vaccine that is a part of the routine childhood immunizations
If your child has Rubella, he/she should not return to school until at least 7 days after the rash first appeared.
Rubella is a reportable disease and must be reported to the Local Medical Officer of Health under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Home