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Rubella: Understanding the Disease, Symptoms, and Treatment
Nepal declared free of rubella as a public health problem: WHO
Context: On August 18, 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that Nepal has eliminated rubella as a public health problem, a major milestone for maternal and child health in South Asia.
What is rubella?
- Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection caused by the rubella virus. It primarily affects children and young adults and is transmitted through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- While rubella is usually mild in children and adults, it poses serious risks during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Infection at this stage can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which causes:
- Miscarriage or stillbirth
- Birth defects such as deafness, heart abnormalities, and developmental delays
What are the major symptoms?
Rubella symptoms typically appear 2–3 weeks after exposure and last 1–5 days. Many people may have mild or no symptoms, but they can still spread the virus.
- Common Symptoms of Rubella include a pink or red rash beginning on the face and spreading across the body, low-grade fever, headache, runny or stuffy nose, red or itchy eyes (conjunctivitis), swollen lymph nodes (behind ears and neck), joint pain (notably in young women), and overall malaise or discomfort.
- In pregnant women, rubella poses a high risk of transmission to the fetus, leading to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), which can cause hearing loss, vision problems, heart defects, brain inflammation, and developmental disorders in the newborn.
How can it be treated?
There is no specific antiviral treatment for rubella; since symptoms are generally mild, management focuses on symptom relief and preventing transmission.
- Recommended care includes bed rest, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and aches, and avoiding contact with pregnant women during the infectious period (1 week before and after rash onset). Infants with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) may need specialised, multidisciplinary pediatric care depending on the severity of complications.
- Prevention: The MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) is the most effective protection, with two doses recommended—the first at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years—providing lifelong immunity for most people.
