Rubella
MODES OF SPREAD
Transmitted directly from person to person by--
- Droplets from nose and throat, and droplet nuclei
- Virus can cross the placenta and infect the foetus in utero
SYMPTOMS
- Begin with 1 or 2 days of mild fever (99–100° Fahrenheit, or 37.2–37.8° Celsius)
- Swollen, painful lymph nodes (glands) around a child's back of neck, armpits and groin, and behind the ears
- A rash then appears that begins on the face and spreads down the body.
- The rubella rash can look like many other viral rashes, appears as either pink or light red spots, which may merge to form evenly colored patches.
- Itching of the rash can last up to 3days and the rash subside with fine flakes of skin
- Symptoms in teens and adults may include: headache; loss of appetite; mild conjunctivitis (inflammation of the lining of the eyelids and eyeballs); a stuffy or runny nose; swollen lymph nodes in other parts of the body; and pain and swelling in the joints (especially in young women).
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PREVENTION
- MMR vaccine is given to every child at 9 months of age to prevent childhood rubella infection and also mother to child transmission
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