Complications | Rubella

Complications

Complications are very rare and, when they occur, consist of a persistent chronic inflammation of the joints or an inflammation of the brain that sets in much later, known as progressive rubella panencephalitis, an inflammation of the brain caused by the rubella virus and affecting the entire brain. If a pregnant woman falls ill with rubella that is not immune to the rubella virus (S. immune system), there is a varying risk of infection for the unborn child depending on the stage of pregnancy:

Prognosis and course

Rubella is usually mild and without complications in children, adolescents and adults. However, a child with connatal rubella has a poor prognosis and its development is impaired by the organ damage it causes.

Prophylaxis

The prophylaxis (prevention) of rubella is of crucial importance, because vaccination against rubella can effectively prevent complications and damage to the unborn child. All children, both boys and girls, should be vaccinated twice against rubella, since boys are the carriers of the disease and can infect girls and women. Vaccination against rubella is recommended from the age of 15 months and the second vaccination can follow the first one at an interval of four weeks.

It is recommended to be vaccinated at the same time with a combination vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, each vaccination can also be given separately. The vaccine against the rubella virus is a so-called live vaccine: during its production, the effect of rubella viruses is weakened and their ability to reproduce is eliminated. Through the contact of the body with the weakened virus form there is a response of the immune system, through which the vaccinated person becomes immune to the viruses, i.e. with renewed contact with the virus the disease does not occur.

The vaccination has a high effectiveness rate, 95% of all vaccinated persons are immune to infection with the rubella virus. The vaccination protection lasts for 15-30 years. In 5-10% of the vaccinated persons, a vaccination reaction in the form of fever and a small spotted rash may occur within 5-7 days.Vaccination in adulthood is also possible, for which there are two requirements for women: There must be no pregnancy at the time of the vaccination and pregnancy must be ruled out in the two cycles following the vaccination, as the vaccination causes damage to the unborn child.

Women of child-bearing age should be immunized against rubella and, if the vaccination does not provide protection, it is essential to ensure that the vaccination does so before pregnancy. Adults may experience joint pain after the rubella vaccination. The following persons must not be vaccinated with the rubella vaccine: People who take medication that suppresses the immune response (=immunosuppressive therapy); people with a weak immune system (e.g. AIDS); in the case of chicken egg protein allergies, because the vaccine contains such components from chicken egg protein and pregnant women.