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Who is most likely to get rubella?
Key facts. Rubella is a contagious viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults. Rubella is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects. Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as congenital rubella syndrome.
Is rubella common in children?
Rubella is caused by the rubella (roo-BELL-uh) virus (not the same virus that causes measles). It spreads when people breathe in virus-infected fluid. Before the rubella vaccine, epidemics happened every 6-9 years, usually among kids 5 to 9 years old, along with many cases of congenital rubella.
What are the chances of getting rubella while pregnant?
For example: If you get rubella in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has an 8 to 9 in 10 chance (85 percent) of getting infected. This is a very high chance. If you get rubella at 13 to 16 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has a 1 in 2 chance (50 percent) of being infected.
What happens if you are not immune to rubella while pregnant?
If you’re planning to get pregnant and you aren’t immune to rubella, you may want to ask your doctor about getting the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Because this vaccine contains a live but weakened form of the virus, it’s not recommended during pregnancy.
What if my child has rubella?
There is no medication to treat rubella, but there are things you can do to ease your child’s symptoms:
- Give your child paracetamol in recommended doses to help lower his fever and reduce discomfort.
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of water and get lots of rest.
Is rubella vaccine necessary before pregnancy?
Protect yourself against rubella with the MMR vaccine The best protection against rubella is the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine. If you aren’t up to date with the MMR vaccine, you’ll need it before you get pregnant. Make sure you have a pre-pregnancy blood test to see if you are immune to the disease.
Do I need rubella vaccine before pregnancy?
Rubella (German measles) Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for your baby. If you are not already vaccinated against rubella, you should be vaccinated before you get pregnant.
Why is rubella important in pregnancy?
Pregnant women who contract rubella are at risk for miscarriage or stillbirth, and their developing babies are at risk for severe birth defects with devastating, lifelong consequences. CRS can affect almost everything in the developing baby’s body. The most common birth defects from CRS can include: Deafness.