German Measles or Rubella

German Measles or Rubella

What are the symptoms of German measles

This viral disease is not as contagious or serious as measles. The incubation period is around 17 to 18 days. It starts like a mild cold with a runny nose, sore throat and a mild temperature. Two days later your child will break out in a rash. Initially, the spots will appear behind the ears and on the forehead before moving down the body. These spots are pale, flat, and more spread out than the ones symptomatic of measles. The rash lasts only for a few days. The glands on the back of the neck will swell up.

Do I need to take this disease seriously

The symptoms of this disease are so mild that there is no specific treatment. The best you can do is to make sure that your child is comfortable and keep her amused. While you need not be particularly worried about the health of your child, the greatest danger of this disease is that it could result in foetal damage in a pregnant woman.

This disease can be prevented by inoculating your child with the MMR vaccine when she is between 12 to 18 months old. This should confer lifelong immunity from the disease.

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