Rubella or German measles is a highly transmissible viral infection that could affect pregnant women too. Rubella in pregnancy can cause serious fetal and maternal complications. Rubella begins with flu-like symptoms, such as low fever and sore throat, followed by a rash on the face that later spreads throughout the body (1). Although routine childhood vaccination against rubella has caused it to become a rare disease in the US, this usually mild infection can cause serious complications in unvaccinated pregnant women (2). The rate of occurrence of rubella in a pregnant person is similar to that in a non-pregnant individual, with vaccination as the only preventive measure. In this post, we guide you through the details of rubella in pregnancy, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
How Does Rubella Spread?
The rubella virus can be transmitted through the saliva or mucus of an infected person. It is typically an airborne infection and spreads through cough or sneeze droplets. The virus can also spread from an infected person through (3):
Contaminated objects Kissing Handshakes Shared drinks or foods
Further, a pregnant woman with rubella can transfer the virus to her fetus through the bloodstream.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Rubella?
The manifestation of rubella includes low fever or other flu-like symptoms before the rash appears. The rash starts from the face, spreads to the body, and generally fades away after three days. Hence, it is also called the three-day measles. People infected with the rubella virus may also show the following symptoms (2) (4):
Pink and swollen eyes
Runny and stuffy nose Cough Sore throat Headache Swollen lymph nodes (behind the ears and in the neck) Muscle or joint pain (arthritis)
Note: Sometimes, infected people may not show any symptoms but still be carriers of the disease.
What Complications Can Rubella Cause During Pregnancy?
Although rubella is considered a mild disease that resolves with simple treatments, it may cause severe fetal complications in unvaccinated pregnant women. The severity of the disease depends on when it is contracted. Complications are most likely to occur if the infection is contracted during the first trimester (3). The complications from contracting rubella during pregnancy may include the following (2) (5).
Heart defects Eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts Deafness Delay in growth and learning disabilities Diabetes Liver and spleen issues
When Can Pregnant Women Take The Rubella Vaccine?
The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) comprising live attenuated rubella virus is not recommended during pregnancy. Instead, it is administered in childhood in two doses. Non-pregnant adults, after consultation with a healthcare provider and an antibody test, can also get vaccinated. Unvaccinated women who plan on getting pregnant should receive the vaccine at least four weeks before getting pregnant. However, if a pregnant woman contracts the disease, she should wait till after pregnancy to receive the vaccine and discuss the possible treatment options with a healthcare provider (3) (6).
Why Is Screening For The Rubella Virus Needed Before Pregnancy?
Given the pregnancy complications caused by rubella, screening for the virus while planning a pregnancy is important. Screening involves a blood test that checks for IgGantibodies against rubella. A positive blood test confirms the presence of IgGantibodies, while a negative test shows that a vaccine shot needs to be given (7).
What Is The Possibility Of Passing Rubella To Your Baby?
Babies have the highest risk of contracting rubella from their mothers within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (around 85%). If pregnant women get infected within 13 to 16 weeks, there is a 50% risk of fetal infection, and toward the end of the pregnancy, there is a 25% risk (2).
How Is Rubella Treated In Pregnancy?
Unfortunately, rubella has no specific treatment. However, your healthcare provider may recommend fever medication and home remedies such as increased water intake, juices, and soup to ease the discomfort. An infected pregnant woman may also be given pregnancy-safe acetaminophen to alleviate the flu symptoms. In case of severe complications, steroids or a blood transfusion may be recommended by the healthcare provider (2) (3).
How To Reduce The Risk Of Rubella In Pregnancy?
The only effective preventive measure for rubella is vaccination. It is important to get the MMR vaccine before pregnancy to avoid prenatal rubella infection and its complications. Since the disease is contagious, avoid any form of contact with infected persons, especially if they have had rashes over their bodies for less than a week (8).
