Rubella: incubation period, symptoms, treatment, prevention

Rubella is known to all as a child's ailment, but you can get sick already in adulthood. In adults, pathology is much more difficult and often accompanied by complications. Infection with rubella is especially dangerous during pregnancy. The incubation period lasts about 3 weeks. The virus has time to penetrate into the body and provoke a sharp deterioration of health.

general information

Rubella is a disease of viral etiology, which in 1881 was allocated to a separate nosological group. Its causative agent is the RNA-genomic infectious agent from the family of tobawirus. It has teratogenic activity, that is, it can disrupt the full-fledged development of the embryo. The virus tolerates freezing well and remains aggressive at room temperature. However, exposure to ultraviolet light, heating or the use of disinfectants lead to its death.

The pathological process manifests itself as a small-spotted rash and catarrhal phenomena. It can be diagnosed only by specific signs. However, the priority is given to the analysis of rubella. Specific antibodies begin to be actively synthesized in the body 4 weeks after infection. This indicates the formation of persistent immunity, which is weakening in 20 years.

Transmission paths

The source of infection is usually a sick person. The infectious agent begins to be released into the environment one week before the onset of skin rashes and for 5-6 days after the onset of pustules. From an epidemiological point of view, children with congenital rubella are recognized as the most dangerous. In this case, the causative agent is released into the environment together with feces or urine.

There are several ways of transmission of infection:

• Air-drip;
• Transplacental;
• Contact-household.

Women of reproductive age are especially susceptible to the rubella virus. Prior to the beginning of mass preventive vaccination, cases of the disease were registered almost everywhere. Currently, among all outbreaks of the disease, about 83% are recorded in the post-Soviet countries. This trend is due to the lack of an immunization program for the population.

The incubation period of rubella

Incubation is the period from the moment the virus enters the body before the appearance of the first clinical manifestations of infection. In the case of rubella, it is 10-24 days. During this time interval the infectious agent manages to penetrate through the mucous throat and get into the blood, where its active reproduction begins.

It is in the incubation period of rubella in infants visiting the gardens that the healthy from the sick child becomes infected. At this time, specific signs of ailment are still absent. About a week before the onset of the rash on the skin, the patient becomes contagious to others.

Symptoms of the disease in children

In childhood, rubella flows easily enough. Photo babies prove that even with this disease they can play and do ordinary things. At the initial stage of development of pathological process the child can refuse food, be capricious and constantly wake up at night. This is due to the fact that the virus releases toxic substances that affect the CNS.

As the progression appears signs resembling catarrhal disease: dry cough, congestion of the throat, nasal congestion, a slight increase in temperature. Literally in 2-3 days the situation can change dramatically. Throughout the body of the child appears a small-spotty rash without itching. Pink spots do not rise above the surface of the skin. The preferred location for their localization is the flexural surface of the legs and arms, the groin and buttocks. The clinical picture is often supplemented by an increase in the occipital lymph nodes.

With this disease, the picture of blood also changes. In the general analysis, there is a persistent increase in lymphocytes against the background of a drop in white blood cells. ESR at the same time remains within the norm. A fourfold increase in the specific antibodies to rubella indicates an initial or acute period of the course.

Features of the pathological process in adults

In adulthood, the symptoms of the disease are more pronounced. As a rule, the body reacts violently to the penetration of the virus. If the child calmly tolerates rubella "on his feet", an adult needs bed rest for a week.

Among the main complaints with which patients turn to the doctor, one can single out a rise in temperature to 39 degrees, joint pain and growing weakness. The initial stage of rubella is often accompanied by an increase in the size of the spleen and liver, which is detected by palpation. Auscultation of the heart often reveals the muffling of its tones.

There is photophobia and lacrimation. The characteristic rubella spots tend to merge together. At the same time, there are no clear boundaries for papules. Usually they appear on extensive sites - in the field of a back and a buttock. In the absence of treatment, the ailment threatens defeat of the joints of the hands and even encephalitis.

Syndrome of congenital rubella

For pregnant women, this disease is very dangerous. The virus is distinguished by the ability to overcome the placental barrier and can cause malformations in the fetus. Especially dangerous situation, if it comes to infection in the first trimester.

In the first place, the CNS becomes the target. The second place belongs to the organs of sight and hearing, and the third place to the heart. A child with congenital rubella syndrome is often diagnosed with diabetes, impaired thyroid function, and even autism. At the same time, it is an infection carrier and can be potentially contagious for 1-2 years.

At later terms of pregnancy (from about 13 weeks), the likelihood of congenital malformation is much lower, but still exists. Still unpleasant consequence of the disease is stillbirth. For example, every third pregnant woman has a miscarriage in the incubation period of rubella. At one lady from 10 the dead kid is born.

Methods of diagnosis

Detection of the disease in children is usually not accompanied by difficulties. An experienced physician should look at a small patient, examine a clinical picture and his anamnesis. After that, appropriate treatment is prescribed.

To diagnose the ailment in adults, including pregnant women, a more serious examination will be required. It includes the following activities:

1. Serological analysis. The diagnostic test for immunoglobulins M and G can tell a lot. For example, an increase in these titers indicates the development of a pathological process. IgM is checked approximately 10-12 days after infection. When the titer is increased 4 times or more, rubella is diagnosed. For preventive purposes, this analysis is prescribed for pregnant women and in contact with sick people. When IgG is determined immediately, antibodies to the virus are present in the body. IgG persist for life.
2. Virological research. Allows to detect the presence of an infectious agent in the body. The analysis is informative only until the appearance of the initial rash. Not only blood, but also nasal discharge and amniotic fluid, are suitable as the test material.
3. PCR method. Through the polymerase chain reaction, the rubella genome can be identified.

To exclude other pathologies that have a similar clinical picture, conduct a comparative diagnosis. Infection is differentiated from measles, scarlet fever, mononucleosis and allergies.

Features of therapy

With rubella, hospital treatment is not required. Hospitalizations are subject to patients with severe illness, with concomitant pathologies or suspected complications. Specific therapy is also not implemented.

The therapeutic complex includes compliance with a special diet with a predominance of protein food in the diet. It is better to choose low-fat types of meat. The food should be divided and in small portions. It is mandatory to monitor the drinking regime and consume about 2 liters of ordinary water per day.

Symptomatic therapy includes the use of antipyretic drugs (Paracetamol, Nurofen) and antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil). With the development of complications resort to the help of antibacterial drugs. They are appointed individually and necessarily taking into account the condition of the patient.

Effects on the body

Rubella rarely causes complications, especially in young patients. If the immunity is weak, after the infection, inflammation occurs in the knee-elbow and phalangeal joints. Prodromal signs may contribute to the development of pneumonia, otitis or angina.

Regardless of the stage of rubella and the timeliness of going to the doctor, pregnant women almost always experience complications. They do not touch the very future mother, but the child inside the womb. These can be mental-physical anomalies, miscarriages or pregnancy fading.

Ways to prevent disease

The prevention of rubella means timely vaccination. This infectious disease is easy to prevent. In medical practice, various vaccines are being used today, including imported ones. Vaccination is done for young children from 15 to 18 months of life. Then it is repeated in the puberty period. Immunity after the introduction of the drug persists for 20 years.

Pregnant women vaccination is contraindicated. It is also not recommended to plan conception within three months after vaccination. At this time, there is an increased likelihood of infection of the fetus.

If you do not know what the patients with the diagnosis of "rubella" look like, photos from this article will help to understand the issue. If rashes appear, the patient should immediately be shown to the doctor, and then necessarily isolate him until he is fully recovered. In the room where the infected person is, it is necessary to constantly carry out a wet cleaning and to ventilate the room.