Therapy

A specific therapy of rubella is only necessary in exceptional cases, for people with weakened immune systems and for pregnant women. Normally, the body alone can cope with the infection. A symptomatic therapy can always be carried out, so antipyretic drugs such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be taken, but the package insert should always be observed and possible side effects, etc.

should be considered. For sore throats, throat pastilles can be sucked.Otherwise, it is important to make sure that you drink enough fluids and especially if you are very tired, infected persons should take it easy on their bodies. If pregnant women are infected, a more drastic therapy is often indicated.

An infusion of antibodies can prevent the infection from spreading to the unborn child. If the unborn child is already infected, a blood exchange for the child can be considered, whereby the child remains in the womb (intrauterine blood transfusion). People with a severely weakened immune system or red blood cell diseases (erythrocytes; such as thalassemia, spherocytosis, sickle cell anemia) may experience severe anemia (aplastic crisis). Here, too, a blood transfusion and the administration of antibodies should be considered.

Ringel rubella during pregnancy

A rubella infection during pregnancy is considered dangerous. If the mother is infected, the virus crosses the barrier of the placenta (placenta) in one third of cases and infects the fetus (diaplacental transmission). Since the infection in the mother usually proceeds without symptoms, timely detection is not always possible.

A physician should be consulted if rubella is suspected or if contact with infected persons is suspected. In the unborn child the virus attacks the haematopoietic cells, which leads to severe anaemia in the foetus. This in turn can lead to the so-called Hydrops fetalis, a massive accumulation of fluids in various body cavities of the fetus (including the pericardium, lung and peritoneum) which in turn can cause the fetus to die and miscarriage to occur.

The risk of this is particularly high in the 1st trimester. The more advanced the pregnancy is, the lower the risk of serious consequences. In the 3rd trimenon, the child is usually only temporarily anaemic, with no permanent damage. Nevertheless a doctor should be consulted.