German Measles - symptom, Treatment of German Measles
Synonym: Rubella
Rubella is a viral disease in children and adults that usually runs a mild course with a transient rash and lymph node swelling. When a pregnant woman is affected with rubella, the fetus suffers severe infection leading to physical and mental birth defects.
Symptoms:
Children and adults infected with rubella suffer a mild flu-like illness, a transient non-itchy rash and a mild lymph node swelling. Rubella spreads by droplet infection. The incubation period is 10-20 days, the course of illness 2-3 days. Patients continue to be infective for a week after the rash subsides. Infection in a pregnant woman leads to severe problems in the growing fetus. If infection takes place in the first trimester, almost all organ systems of the fetus are affected: .Heart disease, cataracts and deafness are the common birth defects. . Developmental defects show up as delayed milestones, behavioral disorders and mental retardation. .Liver and blood disorders are also likely. Infection later in pregnancy, around 20 wks gestation, causes deafness in the fetus.
Cause:
Rubella is caused by a RNA virus. It is not certain why a virus that causes such a mild form of disease should have a devastating effect on the fetus.
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