Definition
Rubella is a highly infectious viral infectious disease; like measles, mumps and chickenpox, rubella is also one of the exanthemic diseases typical of childhood and school age. It is very rare to contract rubella more than once during the course of life due to post-infection immunity.
Causes
Rubella is caused by an RNA virus - belonging to the Togaviridae family and the genus of the Rubivirus - transmitted by air via the infected microdroplets emitted into the air during a sneeze, a cough or talking.
Symptoms
- Incubation period (14-max.18 days): generally asymptomatic.
- Typical clinical form: recognizable and evident rash characterized by papules and small macules, associated with fever, inflammation / swelling of the lymph nodes
- Less frequent clinical form: no exanthe (25% of affected patients), fever, lymph node inflammation. Sometimes it is asymptomatic (→ danger to pregnancy).
Rare complications: platelet purpura, multiple sclerosis
Information on Rubella - Rubella Treatment Drugs is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Rubella - Rubella Treatment Drugs.
drugs
Although in minimal percentage, the rubella is asymptomatic: this turns out to be a serious problem for pregnant women, since rubella could create serious problems for the unborn child, such as thrombocytopenia, splenomegaly, jaundice. In this regard, it is good that the future mother is subjected to vaccination against rubella if she had not contracted the disease in previous years.
Except for the contraction of rubella during gestation, the disease can be defined as "poorly dangerous": for this purpose it is sometimes not necessary to take any medication. Indicated, instead, therapeutic aids in case of fever and joint pains. In the case of complications, corticosteroids are recommended, although the possibility, fortunately, is almost rare.
- Acetaminophen (or Paracetamol: eg. Acetamol, Tachipirina) for joint pain and alteration of body temperature in the context of rubella. Taken orally in the form of tablets, syrup, effervescent sachets, or suppositories, the drug is generally administered at a dose of 325 - 650 mg every 4-6 hours for 6-8 consecutive days, to bring down the fever. The drug can also be taken intravenously: 1 gram every 6 hours or 650 mg every 4 hours for adults and adolescents weighing more than 50 kilos: if the patient weighs less than 50 kilos, give 15 mg / kg every 6 hours or 12.5 mg / kg every 4 hours.
- Among the NSAIDs, Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Kendo, Moment) is widely used to lighten joint pain in the event of rubella: take on the palate from 200 to 400 mg of active ingredient (tablets, effervescent sachets) every 4- 6 hours, as needed. In some cases, the analgesic can be administered intravenously (400 to 800 mg every 6 hours, as needed).
Salicylates, such as Aspirin, Ascriptin, Aspro, should not be given to children with rubella and viral diseases in general, as they can cause Reye's syndrome, brain and liver damage.
Vaccination against rubella
Generally, the vaccine for rubella prophylaxis is Proquad and MM-RVAXPRO: these are combined vaccines against measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox, made up of the attenuated viruses of the diseases listed above.
The vaccine is administered subcutaneously in the thigh or upper arm: in general, the vaccine is injected into children over one year of age, and repeated after 4 weeks if necessary.
What changes since 2017
With the decree law on the prevention of vaccination for minors from zero to 16 years, approved on 07/28/2017 , vaccination against rubella has become mandatory .
This specific vaccination can be performed with a single injection together with 3 other vaccination covers (the so-called quadrivalent MPRV vaccination, which includes vaccines: anti-measles, anti-rubella, anti-mumps, anti-varicella).
- The obligation of vaccination against rubella is in force, in the context of the 10 mandatory vaccinations, for those born from 2017. Even those born after 2001 are subject to the obligation of vaccination against rubella .
- Immunized subjects due to the natural disease are exempt from the vaccination requirement, therefore children who have already contracted rubella will not have to be vaccinated against this disease
Please note that compulsory vaccinations are a requirement for admission to nursery schools and kindergartens (for children from 0 to 6 years) and that the violation of the vaccination requirement implies the application of significant financial penalties .
For more information on mandatory vaccines in children, see this article.
As already highlighted several times, women who are pregnant or intending to conceive a child, if they have not contracted the disease in previous years, should undergo vaccination against rubella, in order to avoid possible damage to the fetus.
NB Practical advice in the case of rubella
To speed up recovery from rubella, the patient is advised to follow some simple behavioral rules:
- take plenty of fluids: liquids help prevent dehydration and skin xerosis. For this purpose water (especially), juices and milk are recommended
- limit the intake of coffee, tea and derivatives
- follow a balanced diet: bread, rice, pasta, lots of fruit and vegetables, legumes, lean meat, fish, eggs and nuts. Limit fats.
