Definition
Ringel rubella (also: Erythema infectiosum, 5th disease, Fifth Disease) describes an infectious disease that affects children in particular and only rarely occurs in adults. For this reason, rubella is also counted among the children’s diseases. The disease is transmitted by droplet infection (e.g. by sneezing).
Ringel rubella is a viral disease and is caused by the rubella virus (human parvovirus B19). Often the disease proceeds without symptoms and without being noticed (clinically inapparent). When symptoms occur, there is often a reddening of the cheeks (slap exanthema), a rash on the arms and legs, as well as slight fever and exhaustion.
Normally no therapy is necessary, as the disease passes by itself (self-limiting). In adults, complications such as joint inflammation (arthritis), or a more severe course of the disease may occur more frequently. Also in pregnant women, a rubella infection is considered dangerous, as the unborn child can be infected and it can lead to serious consequences and even death of the child.
Causes
Ringel rubella is caused by a virus called parvovirus B19. The human parvovirus B19 has a single strand of genetic material (DNA strand) in a capsule. After infection, it enters the bone marrow via the bloodstream and infects cells there that are responsible for the formation of blood cells (erythropoid precursor cells).
There, it leads to the death of the affected cells, causing anaemia and, through further secretion, a general, undirected inflammatory response of the body. This manifests itself in the form of rash and fever. In particular, the typical rash (exanthema) is probably triggered mainly by the body’s defense reaction (immune response). Why the disease generally takes a more severe course in adults than in children has not yet been conclusively researched.
How long is the incubation period in adults?
The incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and outbreak of the first symptoms, is a few days to about two weeks for rubella. The highest risk of infection is between the fifth and tenth day of the incubation period, i.e. at a time when the infected person does not yet know about the infection.
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