The first mention of rubella are 16th century. But only in the 19th century learned to distinguish rubella from measles, scarlet fever, and emerged as an independent nosological form (single disease). Attention to the disease increased with the identification of its role in the occurrence of congenital malformations.

What is rubella and what it is dangerous

Rubella - an acute infectious disease caused by a virus, characterized by the appearance of skin rashes Skin rash: mayday   and enlarged lymph nodes. Rubella virus was isolated in the early sixties vulgar century. Propagated by the measles virus in the cells and can cause chronic infection of cells, especially embryonic origin (the developing fetus).

The pathogen enters the body through the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and then in the second half of the incubation period (time from infection until the first signs of the disease) in the blood. In step precipitation begins production of antibodies (specific blood proteins that are produced in response to the introduction of foreign substances into the body, in this case - measles, neutralized and removing them from the body), whose content in the blood reaches a maximum after 2-3 weeks, and more after a rash. The measles virus is particularly "loved" lymphatic tissue and causes the characteristic lymph nodes.

The causative agent of rubella also has the ability to hit embryonic tissue. When an infection in women in the first three months of pregnancy there is a chronic infection of the fetus with a delay of his tissues and organs, thus causing various malformations (brain, eyes and ears, heart, bones and so on). When infected in the later stages of pregnancy, the virus infects the placenta blood vessels, causing a chronic shortage of oxygen to the organs and tissues of the fetus, which violates their development.

How do you get rubella

The source of infection with the rubella are patients in whom the virus can be isolated for several days before the appearance of rashes on the skin and within two weeks thereafter. The source of infection may also face ill asymptomatic form of the disease. Children born with signs of congenital rubella, in a few months or even a half or two years after birth may be a source of infection.

Infection occurs through airborne droplets. Rubella susceptibility is high, but lower than measles or chickenpox. It affects mostly children from 1 year to 7 years, but maybe the disease and adults. After the disease develops durable lifelong immunity.

Symptoms of rubella

The incubation period for rubella is two-three weeks. Initially, there is a slight rise in temperature, a runny nose and a little cough, then - swelling and tenderness of the cervical, occipital and other lymph nodes, they grow to the size of a large pea.

After 2-3 days after that on the face and neck, rash Rash: Classification - primary and secondary elements That within a few hours distributed throughout the body. It is the most abundant on the extensor surfaces of the extremities, back and buttocks, may be accompanied by slight itching. The rash looks like stains pale pink round or oval, sometimes slightly towering above the skin. The magnitude of the spots is different - from a pinhead to the size of lentils. The rash fades after 2-3 days, leaving no pigmentation and subsequent peeling. Along with skin rash in some patients in the mucosa of the pharynx there are small pale pink spots (enanthema). Precipitation is accompanied by a rise in temperature, usually within 38˚, but often throughout the disease is a normal temperature.

Adults, rubella heavier, with a higher temperature, severe headache and muscle aches, runny nose, and conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis .

What can be complicated by rubella

A major complication is rubella encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), it occurs with a frequency of one case per 5-6 thousand patients rubella. Occasionally there is also the defeat of the joints, inflammation of the lungs, the kidneys, the middle ear and peripheral nerves.

When rubella in pregnant women in the first three months of pregnancy the fetus in 50% of cases occur malformations of various organs and systems. Gregg's syndrome is characterized by: cataract (blindness), deafness and heart disease. There may be other malformations. When infecting women with rubella in the later period of pregnancy the fetus develops diseases such as hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, bone lesions, lung, and so on. In congenital rubella some developmental defects (eg, deafness) may develop later (one year later).

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of rubella

Diagnosis is based on characteristic symptoms of the disease. Confirm it can by isolating the virus from the blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or change in antibody titer, which may be found on the 2nd day after the rash appears, followed by increase of titers within 2-3 weeks or more.

Special treatment for rubella is not carried out, warn the disease is through vaccination. The vaccination is not carried out, or pregnant women planning a pregnancy in the next three months.

Remember, the greatest danger is rubella in pregnant women.

Galina Romanenko