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German measles or rubella is an infection caused by
a germ called the rubella virus. The person may suffer
from mild cold and fever and sore throat. Some glands
may swell up on the back of the neck and within 24 hours
pink spots may start on the face and spread to the rest
of the body rapidly. The rash appears very similar to
measles but the rash disappears so fast that by time
it reaches the stomach, the rash on the face in gone.
By the 2nd day, the rash disappears and what
is seen is flushing of the face and usually by the 3rd
day, the rash completely disappears. The fever is often
gone by then. Sometimes, rubella in an older woman may
cause pain in the joints.
Hence, German measles is also called Three
– Day measles.
German measles spreads through coughing and person to
person contact.
German measles can be prevented by taking a shot. Your
doctor must have given you a shot when you were about
15 months of age. Otherwise, the disease is so mild
that no other treatment is required.
German measles is usually mild in children, However
rubella in the pregnant woman is very dangerous for
the unborn child and hence it is so important to take
the rubella shot.
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