Rubella (German Measles)

Treatment Overview

Treatment for rubella focuses on caring for the specific symptoms, such as drinking extra fluids so you do not become dehydrated and getting plenty of rest. Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, can be given to children and adults for fever. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 because of the possible link between aspirin and Reye's syndrome.

If your baby was born with rubella, take precautions to avoid exposing the baby to people who are susceptible to the disease. In day care centers and at home, good hygiene and careful hand-washing are the most important control measures.

Extra care should be taken around pregnant women. Pregnant women working in child care facilities should minimize direct exposure to saliva and avoid kissing babies or young children on the mouth. An infant born with rubella can be contagious for as long as 1 year after birth.

Pregnant women or those considering pregnancy

Women considering pregnancy who are unsure of their immunity to rubella may be vaccinated(What is a PDF document?) safely up to 1 month before becoming pregnant.

If you are pregnant and susceptible (not immune) to rubella, talk to your health professional. He or she may recommend an injection of immune globulin (IG) if you have been exposed to the virus. Immune globulin does not prevent rubella infection, but it may reduce the severity of the symptoms and lower the risk for birth defects. However, immune globulin does not get rid of the risk of a child being born with a birth defect due to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Children with CRS have been born to mothers who have received immune globulin.

If you are pregnant and have been infected with the rubella virus in the first months of your pregnancy, you may want to seek counseling about the risk that the baby will be born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and what options are available to you.

An unborn baby (fetus) can get infected from a mother who has rubella during her pregnancy. Babies infected in the first trimester may also develop birth defects. Treatment varies according to the specific problem.

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Author:	Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: October 2, 2006
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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