Rubella IgM antibodies

Rubella – is an acute viral infection characterized by fever, maculopapular rash, and lymph node reaction. In children, rubella is a completely mild disease: all clinical symptoms are mild, the disease quickly resolves, and complications are extremely rare. The greatest problem that rubella causes is for pregnant women: the rubella virus has a strong teratogenic effect (causing gene or chromosomal mutations, embryo development disorders), so when a pregnant woman contracts rubella, there is a high risk of birth defects.

The source of infection is those with rubella. They spread the infection most when they have a rash, but they also release the virus into the environment a few 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 a few days after.

Rubella is not a severe disease, the rash is often hard to notice, so sometimes people can have it without knowing. However, such individuals are particularly dangerous to others as a source of infection. Both children and adults are susceptible to rubella. The infection spreads through airborne droplets. Infection can occur by being in the same room with an infected person. Pregnant women working in children's groups (e.g., kindergartens, schools, etc.) can be infected by children with mild, sometimes unnoticed forms of rubella.

The incubation period for rubella lasts 15-24 days. Children or adults recover easily: they may have a fever for 2–3 days, and a rash appears, lasting from a few 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 malformations known as congenital rubella syndrome are possible. The earlier in pregnancy the disease occurs, the more severe the malformations. Contracting the disease at the beginning of pregnancy often results in miscarriages. If a woman contracts the disease during the first trimester, there is a greater than 80% chance that their babies will be born with severe heart and brain malformations, or will be blind or deaf. Therefore, if it is determined that a pregnant woman has acute rubella infection, termination of pregnancy is often recommended.