Rubella is a viral infection that is usually mild in children and adults: a slight fever, a fine rash, and swollen lymph nodes. It is dangerous mainly for one group, pregnant women. If a woman catches it early in pregnancy, the virus can damage the baby. That is why the rubella vaccine matters not only for the child who gets it but also for future mothers and their babies. The virus spreads through the air in droplets when a person coughs or sneezes.
Rubella symptoms
Symptoms start 2 to 3 weeks after exposure. In some people (up to half, according to WHO) there is no rash or it is barely visible, so rubella is easy to mistake for a cold.
- Swollen lymph nodes behind the ears and at the back of the neck are a common early sign. They can swell several days before the rash.
- Rash. Fine pink spots appear on the face, then spread to the body and last 1 to 3 days (WHO says a rash occurs in 50 to 80% of cases). It may itch slightly. For help telling skin eruptions apart, see the page on rash.
- Fever is usually low, under 39 °C (102 °F), sometimes with mild eye inflammation, a sore throat, and nausea.
- Joint pain is more common in adults, especially women, and lasts 3 to 10 days.
A person is contagious from about a week before the rash to about a week after it, so it is almost impossible to recognize the disease in time.
Rubella and pregnancy: congenital rubella syndrome
According to WHO, if a woman is infected with rubella early in pregnancy, the chance that the virus passes to the baby is about 90%. The risk is highest in the first trimester. The consequences include miscarriage, fetal death, or congenital rubella syndrome: heart defects, cataracts and other eye damage, deafness, and developmental delay.
So women who plan a pregnancy should check ahead of time whether they are immune. Ask your doctor about a blood test for rubella antibodies or look for your vaccination records. If you are not immune, get vaccinated before you become pregnant: the vaccine is live and is not given during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and develop a rash or have been in contact with someone who has rubella, see an obstetrician-gynecologist right away.
How rubella is diagnosed and treated
Rubella symptoms are not specific: measles, scarlet fever, allergies, and other viruses can cause a similar rash. So the diagnosis is confirmed with a blood test for antibodies (IgM points to a recent infection, IgG to immunity) or PCR. There is no specific treatment: rest, fluids, and medicine for fever and pain as your doctor advises. Antibiotics do not work on viruses. A sick person should stay home for at least a week after the rash appears and avoid contact with pregnant women and young children.
Rubella vaccine in Georgia
The vaccine protects. In Georgia, rubella is covered by the national immunization schedule through the combined MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella). The two-dose course is given at 12 months and at 5 years of age (Minister's Order No. 01-60/n, version of July 13, 2023). Unvaccinated children and teenagers get two doses at least four weeks apart. According to WHO, one dose gives more than 95% protection that lasts a long time.
Clinics in Georgia offer, among others, MMR (Serum Institute of India) and Priorix (GSK). For children under 18, calendar vaccines are free under the state program. Vaccine prices at clinics in Georgia are listed further down this page. The same shot protects against measles and mumps. After the shot you may have a sore arm, a low fever, a mild rash, or muscle aches.
The vaccine is not given during pregnancy, to people with severe immune deficiency, or to people with a severe allergy to a vaccine component. A doctor decides about vaccination for people with chronic conditions or allergies.
When to see a doctor urgently
- you are pregnant and have a rash or contact with someone who has rubella;
- a child has a rash with a fever above 39 °C (102 °F), is limp, or refuses to drink;
- severe headache, vomiting, a stiff neck, or seizures;
- a rash made of tiny bleeding spots or bruises that do not fade when pressed;
- joint pain and swelling that last more than two weeks.
If the condition is severe, call an ambulance at 112.
