Late sequelae of ringworm infection | Ringel rubella in adults

Late sequelae of ringworm infection

Normally a rubella infection heals without consequences, but even months later all symptoms can reappear. Once the disease has been overcome, it is not possible to become infected again. Ringel rubella is usually milder in children than in adults.

Nevertheless, even in the case of an illness in adulthood, late effects are very rarely to be expected. Among the most common complications of rubella infection are permanent joint pain. Especially adult women develop joint pain in the small joints of the hands and feet during the course of the disease.

While these disappear in most cases after a few weeks, persistent courses over two months and longer are also described. This is often followed by a persistent infection, which can be detected by virus particles in the synovial fluid. In addition to joint problems, anemia during a rubella infection can also become chronic.

The patients then show the typical symptoms of anemia, such as paleness, fatigue, shortness of breath and hair loss. Especially in chronically ill and elderly people, severe up to life-threatening conditions have been described. Meanwhile, a persistent (lasting) rubella infection is also held responsible for numerous other secondary diseases. These include inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), autoimmune diseases, especially of the vessels, inflammation of the kidneys (glomerulonephritis) and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).

Is there a vaccination?

Unfortunately there is no vaccination against rubella. However, once the disease has been overcome, antibodies remain in the blood for a lifetime, providing reliable protection against the disease. Pregnant women and women planning a pregnancy should be tested for these antibodies.

If no antibodies are present in a pregnant woman, great caution is required. Contact with infected persons should be strictly avoided. Disease outbreaks in nursery schools are a particular danger here.