Synonyms in the broadest sense
Rubeola, rubella infection, rubella virus, rubella exanthema, rubella rash English: German measles, Rubella
EpidemiologyResources
The virus, which is spread worldwide, is transmitted via the air (=aerogenous) by droplets, e.g. when coughing, sneezing or through direct saliva contact when kissing. Rubella is a so-called “children’s disease”, but it can be observed that due to the insufficient vaccination of the population, the peak age of the disease shifts to adolescence and adulthood. In approx. 50% of the cases, patients do not show clinical signs (physical characteristics) of rubella infection, such as the characteristic rubella exanthema (=skin appearance, rash), which is why in these cases one speaks of a subclinical course of the infectious disease.
Infection
The infection occurs via a so-called droplet infection. This means that the finest droplets are expelled when sneezing or coughing. The infectious rubella viruses are located in these droplets and are thus transmitted from one person to another.
The transmission from the mother via the placenta to the unborn child represents a special transmission path. Unfortunately, the placenta does not represent a barrier for the rubella viruses, which thus spread unhindered via the blood to the embryo or fetus. Until the 10th week of pregnancy, 50% of the cases are infected and the course of the infection is dramatic.
Between the 10th – 17th still in 10 – 20% of the cases. Only after the 18th SSW is there only a low risk of infection and the extent of complications is less pronounced. The risk of infection exists approximately one week before and one week after the appearance of the rash. Children who became infected during pregnancy are even contagious for up to a whole year. Overall, however, the actual number of transmissions and infections is not estimated to be very high.
CauseEstablishment
The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, reaches the lymph nodes of the head and neck area and multiplies there. As a reaction of the body to the virus multiplication, the lymph nodes can swell and become painful. Lymph node swelling occurs about five to six days after the virus enters the body.
After a further 10 days, the viruses are transported by the blood circulation in the circulatory system to the skin, where they cause the exanthema (rash) typical of rubella disease. This lasts for four to five days. The infected person excretes the rubella viruses via the secretion of the nasopharynx, with the exhaled air, urine and stool.
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