Rubella is a mild viral illness that lasts for about three days. However, when rubella occurs in pregnant women, it can pose a serious threat to the developing fetus.
Rubella is also known as German
measles or three-day measles. Rubella has nothing to do with Germany; it comes from the Latin word "germanus," meaning "similar," since rubella and measles share similar symptoms.
The
cause of rubella is an infection with
rubella virus. Rubella virus is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus from the family
Togaviridae and the genus
Rubivirus.
Rubella virus resides in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The infected mucus can land in other people's noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in their mouth or nose after touching an infected surface.
Rubella Contagious Period
When a person becomes infected with rubella virus, the virus begins to multiply within the cells that line the back of the throat and the nose. The rubella virus can also spread through the bloodstream or lymph system to other parts of the body. After 14 to 21 days, symptoms of rubella can appear. This period between the rubella transmission and the start of
rubella symptoms is known as the "
rubella incubation period."
A person with rubella is contagious anytime from about seven days prior to the onset of the rash to seven days after the rash appears. A person can spread rubella if he or she becomes infected with rubella virus, even if rubella symptoms never develop.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print