German+Measles+(Rubella)


 * Description of virus that causes the disease. **
 * caused by the rubella virus (not the same virus that causes measles)
 * RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus from the family Togaviridae and the genus Rubivirus
 * density of 1.085 g./cm.

Viral Specificity:
 It affects: Host(s) affected: 
 * the skin
 * respiratory system
 * reproductive system (testes)
 * joints
 * tonsils
 * eyes
 * humans
 * Symptoms and progression of the disease: **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">may begin with 1-2 days of mild fever (99-100° F/37.2-37.8° C)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">swollen, tender lymph nodes, usually in the back of the neck or behind the ears
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">rash starts on the face (fine, pink macules) spreads downward
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">rash can itch and lasts up to 3 days
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">can include headache and loss of appetite
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">inflammation of the lining of the eyelids and eyeballs
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">in a pregnant woman can cause congenital rubella syndrome
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">children infected with rubella before birth are at risk for growth and mentally
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">malformations of the heart and eyes (rubella syndrome)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">deafness and liver, spleen, and bone marrow problems (rubella syndrome)


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Common Methods of Transmission: **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">spread via respiratory transmission from human to human
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">spread by contact with an infected person, through coughing and sneezing
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">transmitted by droplets from the nose or throat that others breathe in
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">pass through a pregnant woman's bloodstream to infect her unborn child
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">when people put their fingers in their mouth after touching an infected surface
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> then spread via the lymph nodes to the blood,
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">where it induces an immune response
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">leads to lasting immunity.

//<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Through Pregnancy: //
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Incubation: 2-3 weeks

**<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Treatment and Prevention: **

 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">cannot be treated with antibiotics
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Rubella virus vaccine given universally to young children
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">given in two shots (at 15 months and 5 years)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">produces lasting immunity in more that 90% of recipients
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">management of Rubella virus infections is typically symptomatic
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">unless there are complications rubella will resolve on its own
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">to relieve minor discomfort, you can use acetaminophen or ibuprofen
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">giving aspirin to a child with a viral illness has been associated with the development of Reye syndrome
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">which can lead to liver failure and death
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">vaccination is the best way to prevent rubella infection
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">vaccine for rubella is given as part of a combined vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">called MMR


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Miscellaneous: **
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">child with rubella can be contagious - infect nurses, doctors, medical students, etc
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">only Togavirus known to be transmitted via the respiratory route
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">can also act as a teratogen, inducing Congenital Rubella Syndrome (spread from mother to fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy)
 * <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">over 20,000 babies born with congenital rubella syndrome


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Resources accessed: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|__http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/german_measles.html__] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|__http://www.humanillnesses.com/Infectious-Diseases-My-Si/Rubella-German-Measles.html__] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|__http://www.medicinenet.com/german_measles/index.htm__] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|__http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mhunt/rubella.htm__] <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">[|__http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/tropmed/disease/rubella/trans.htm__]