Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is an infectious
disease caused by the rubella virus. The disease is often mild, lasting one to
three days, and sometimes passes undetected.
The name rubella is sometimes confused with rubeola, but
the diseases are unrelated.
Symptoms are flu-like and complications are very rare.
However, the infection during pregnancy can be serious and the child may be born
with congenital rubella syndrome.
Rubella is spread by close contact and airborne droplets
from the nose or throat that others breathe in.
The facial rash appears as either pink or light red spots
and usually clears as it extents to other parts of the body. The fever rarely
rises above 100.4 degree F or 38 degree C. Conjunctivitis may appear along with
other symptoms.
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