Rubella IgG antibodies

Rubella is an acute viral infection characterized by fever, maculopapular rash, and lymph node reaction. For children, rubella is a completely mild disease: all clinical symptoms are mild, the disease passes quickly, and complications are extremely rare. The biggest problem caused by rubella is for pregnant women: the rubella virus has a strong teratogenic (causing gene or chromosome mutation, embryo development disorders) effect, posing a high risk of congenital anomalies if a pregnant woman contracts rubella.

The source of infection is those suffering from rubella. They spread the virus most when they have a rash, but they also release viruses into the environment several days before and after the rash. The rubella virus is released from the infected person's body for about two weeks: up to 10 days before the rash appears and several days after the rash.

Rubella is not a severe disease, the rash is hard to notice, so sometimes people get over it without even knowing. However, such individuals pose a significant risk as a source of infection. Both children and adults are susceptible to rubella. The infection spreads through airborne droplets. Infection occurs when being in the same room with an infected person. Pregnant women working in children's groups (e.g., kindergartens, schools, etc.) can get infected by children suffering from mild, sometimes even unnoticed forms of rubella.

The incubation period of rubella lasts 15-24 days. Children or adults recover easily: they have a fever for 2–3 days, and a rash appears, which lasts from several hours to 2–3 days. During rubella, the occipital lymph nodes often enlarge, but this is not a reliable diagnostic sign. This disease is very dangerous for pregnant women as fetal abnormalities, known as congenital rubella syndrome, are possible. The earlier in pregnancy the infection occurs, the more severe the anomalies. If the disease occurs at the beginning of pregnancy, miscarriages are common. If infected during the first trimester of pregnancy, there is a more than 80% chance that these women's babies will be born with severe heart, brain defects, be blind or deaf. Therefore, if it is determined that a pregnant woman has an acute rubella infection, termination of the pregnancy is often recommended.