Diseases
> Rubella
Rubella - In Short
(German Measles)
Topics on this
page:
Description |
A
respiratory disease caused by a virus
|
Symptoms |
Rash
and fever for two to three days ( mild
disease in children and young adults)
|
Complications |
Birth
defects if acquired by a pregnant woman:
deafness, cataracts, heart defects, mental
retardation, and liver and spleen damage
(at least a 20% chance of damage to the
fetus if a woman is infected early in
pregnancy)
|
Transmission |
Spread
by coughing and sneezing
|
Vaccine
|
Rubella
vaccine (contained in MMR vaccine)
can prevent this disease.
You
do NOT need the measles, mumps, rubella
vaccine (MMR) if:
- You
had blood tests that show you are
immune to measles, mumps, and rubella.
- You
are a man born before 1957.
- You
are a woman born before 1957 who
is sure she is not having more children,
has already had rubella vaccine,
or has had a positive rubella test.
- You
already had two doses of MMR or
one dose of MMR plus a second dose
of measles vaccine.
- You
already had one dose of MMR and
are not at high risk of measles exposure.
You
SHOULD get the measles vaccine if you
are not among the categories listed
above, and
- You
are a college student, trade school
student, or other student beyond
high school.
- You
work in a hospital or other medical
facility.
- You
travel internationally, or are a
passenger on a cruise ship.
- You
are a woman of childbearing age.
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