What are the signs and symptoms of rubella?
Most cases of rubella are mild. About half of people infected with rubella virus get a rash that looks like small, fine pink spots. The rash first appears on the face and progresses from head to foot, lasting about 3 days. Children usually develop few or no other symptoms. Adults can have mild fever, headache, reddened eyes, swollen glands behind the ears, tiredness, and joint pain. An infected person can spread the disease for as many as 5 days before the rash appears to 7 days after. Infectious children should not attend school or day care. How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? In most cases, symptoms appear within 16 to 18 days. How is rubella diagnosed? Diagnosis is by blood test or virus culture. Who is at risk for rubella? Anyone can get rubella, but unvaccinated, school-aged children are most at risk. What complications can result from rubella? Rubella is not usually a serious disease in children, but it can be very serious if a pregnant woman becomes infected. When a woma
