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Rubella
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Also known as "German measles"
- Incubation 2-3wk
Clinical Features
- Prodrome 1-5d
- Fever, malaise, headache, sore throat
- Rash
- May be short-lived or protracted (2-3d)
- Pink macules/papules on face, spreads to neck, trunk, arms
- Coalesces on face as it reaches the lower extremities
- Lymphadenopathy
- Suboccipital and posterior auricular nodes
- Arthralgias, arthritis
- Rare complications
- Thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura
- Encephalitis
- Risk of severe congenital illness if fetus exposed to virus, especially in 1st trimester
Differential Diagnosis
Pediatric Rash
- Drug rash
- Erythema Infectiosum (Fifth disease)
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
- Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP)
- Herpangina
- Herpes simplex virus
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Meningitis
- Measles
- Molluscum contagiosum
- Roseola infantum
- Rubella German measles)
- Scarlet fever
- Smallpox
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
Evaluation
- Clinical history and lack of immunization usually sufficient for diagnosis
- CDC also recommends sending throat/nasal swabs for PCR[1]
Management
- Supportive care
- Isolation for 7 days after onset of rash[2]
- Contact health department
