Rubella - Measles Rubella, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Rubella symptoms and treatment

The causative agent of measles rubella belongs to the Togaviridae family and is considered the only one in the genus Rubivirus. Until 1834, measles was considered a type of measles.

Rubella was recognized as a nosological unit in 1881 within the framework of the International Congress held in England. However, until about the middle of the XX century. due to the mild course of the pathology and the small number of recorded complications of the disease proceeding according to the classical scenario, the disease practically did not attract the attention of specialists.

In 1942, an ophthalmologist from Austria N. M. Greg noted an increase in the incidence of congenital malformations and cases of cataracts in babies born after an epidemic of measles rubella. Over time, this fact was confirmed by numerous studies that revealed the teratogenic effect of the causative agent of the disease on the fetus, causing damage to many of its organs and systems.

Rubella symptoms

Rubella measles can be of two types: congenital and acquired. In the first case, the pathogen enters the fetus with the mother's blood, and the frequency of infection during pregnancy depends on the expectant mother's immunity to this infectious disease.

Acquired measles rubella occurs through the airborne transmission of infection. The pathogen begins to stand out from the nasopharynx of an infected person at least a week before the onset of characteristic clinical symptoms - a rash, in addition, this process can continue for several more days after the rash disappears. The maximum risk of infection occurs on the first day of the onset of the rash.

Subclinical forms of pathology are considered the most dangerous for the environment of a sick person, it is important to note that this particular form of the disease is the most common. Infection occurs only through direct contact with the patient, most often with close and prolonged communication. The disease is characterized by high contagiousness (70–90%).

The mother's immunity to the rubella pathogen ensures the child's immunity to the disease in the first year of life. The most common pathology occurs between the ages of two to nine years.

The incubation period for rubella lasts 11–21 days. If the course of the disease is accompanied by severe clinical manifestations, which is typical for 70–80% of cases, then after the end of the incubation period, a prodromal occurs, lasting up to two days.

A permanent symptom of measles rubella is polyadenitis, which proceeds with a moderate increase in the posterior cervical and occipital lymph nodes. In such patients, they become dense and painful on palpation. The enlargement of the lymph nodes can be so pronounced that such a manifestation of the disease becomes noticeable.

In addition, during this period of the disease, the body temperature rises to 37.5-38 ° C, there is an unexpressed catarrhal inflammation on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, on the conjunctiva, roseolous enanthema is noticeable on the surface of the hard palate.

Rashes with measles rubella cover the entire body, and the nature of the rash is roseolous and maculopapular. At the same time, individual elements do not merge with each other. The maximum concentration of the rash is noted on the limbs, back, buttocks and on the outer thighs.

On the second day, and sometimes at the end of the first day of the illness, the number of rashes decreases, and the formations themselves become small, resembling the manifestation of scarlet fever. The rash disappears completely after three days, leaving no traces and peeling.

In adolescence, acquired rubella is more severe than in children. Patients have symptoms of intoxication, the temperature rises to febrile values, chills, muscle pain, catarrhal phenomena in the form of dry cough, itching in the throat, conjunctivitis, and runny nose are observed. The rash in this case is more pronounced, spotty, and individual spots can merge with each other.

Girls with rubella may have arthritis and arthralgia. The clinical symptoms of rubella in this case are expressed in the form of pain, redness, swelling of the joints. The joints of the upper extremities (fingers, elbow joints) and knee joints are most often affected. These symptoms appear one week after the rash and disappear within the next week.

In rare cases, thrombocytopenia is noted, in about half of the cases it becomes chronic.

The most serious consequence of the pathology is considered to be autoimmune encephalitis, it occurs in one case out of 5,000 or out of 6,000 cases of measles rubella, and this complication is most common among schoolchildren and in adult patients. When the meninges are involved in the process, meningoencephalitis occurs.

The greatest threat to patients is posed by central disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The number of deaths in this case is 20–35%. In 30% of patients, after the passage of clinical symptoms of measles rubella, residual effects are noted.

In 1975, for the first time there were cases of progressive rubella panencephalitis, registered in patients aged 10 to 20 years. The complication is accompanied by a decrease in coordination of movements and intelligence. The disease takes on a chronic course and ends with the death of patients after 1-10 years.

Rubella panencephalitis of the brain is accompanied by a change in white matter, while it becomes gray and soft due to demyelination and loss of glia by cells, as well as due to damage to the cerebral vessels. The nature of the process is immunopathological.

Rubella treatment

To date, there are no specific treatments for measles rubella, both congenital and acquired. At the same time, pathogenetic therapy helps prevent the development of serious complications (encephalitis, cerebral edema, fever, seizures).

Patients who have the disease without complications are treated at home. They need bed rest during acute onset of symptoms and symptomatic therapy.

Congenital measles rubella is treated in a specialized hospital, and therapy depends on the clinical manifestations.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".