What happens if you get rubella while pregnant?

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.

What causes rubella positive in pregnancy?

A test for rubella is done to find out if: A woman who is or wants to become pregnant is immune to rubella. A recent infection was caused by the rubella virus. The presence of IgM antibodies means a current or recent infection.

What is a common symptom of rubella?

Most adults who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Some adults may also have a headache, pink eye, and general discomfort before the rash appears.

Can rubella be transmitted during pregnancy?

Rubella spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Also, if a woman is infected with rubella while she is pregnant, she can pass it to her developing baby and cause serious harm. See Pregnancy and Rubella page to learn more.

What does rubella rash look like?

The rubella rash is often the first sign of illness that a parent notices. It can look like many other viral rashes, appearing as either pink or light red spots, which may merge to form evenly colored patches. The rash can itch and lasts up to 3 days.

How do you treat rubella in pregnancy?

Maternal. Rubella infection itself is self-limiting, and there is no treatment. Antipyretics can be given for fever. The woman should be informed that she is infective (i.e. able to pass on the virus), from 7 days prior to the onset of symptoms to 4 days after.

How common is rubella in pregnancy?

What about pregnant women and rubella? Rubella in pregnancy is now very rare in Canada because most women have been vaccinated against it. If a pregnant woman gets rubella during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, she usually passes the disease on to her unborn baby (fetus). The baby will have congenital rubella.

What does rubella look like?

The main symptom of rubella is a red or pink spotty rash. The rash takes 2 to 3 weeks to appear after getting rubella. The rash starts behind the ears and spreads to the head, neck, and body. The rash can be hard to see on dark skin, but might feel rough or bumpy.

Does rubella go away on its own?

Rubella usually goes away on its own. But tell your healthcare provider if: Your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms. You are pregnant and aren’t sure if you have been vaccinated against rubella.

What does rubella look like on a child?

Does rubella cause miscarriage?

Rubella is very dangerous for pregnant women and their developing babies. If a pregnant woman is infected with rubella, she can pass the virus to her baby, which can lead to a miscarriage or an infant born with the congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).

What are the symptoms of rubella in a fetus?

Rubella is viral and predominantly transmitted by coughs. The virus can pass across the placenta and affect the fetus. In around half of rubella cases there are very few symptoms, but symptoms include a rash, a runny nose, a headache, and fever.

What kind of rash do you get from Rubella?

Rubella, also called German measles, is an infection that causes mild flu-like symptoms and a rash on the skin. Only about half of people infected with rubella have these symptoms.

Is it dangerous for a pregnant woman to get rubella?

Pregnancy and Rubella. Rubella is very dangerous for a pregnant woman and her developing baby. Anyone who is not vaccinated against rubella is at risk of getting the disease. Although rubella was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2004, cases can occur when unvaccinated people are exposed to infected people, mostly through international travel.

How long does it take to show symptoms of rubella?

However, because the vaccine isn’t used everywhere, the virus still causes serious problems for babies whose mothers are infected during pregnancy. The signs and symptoms of rubella are often difficult to notice, especially in children. Signs and symptoms generally appear between two and three weeks after exposure to the virus.