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Rubella

Last reviewed: 23 Oct 2024
Last updated: 03 Apr 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • maculopapular rash
  • fever
  • arthralgias
  • lymphadenopathy
  • incomplete immunization
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • malaise
  • coryza or pharyngitis
  • arthritis
  • conjunctivitis
Full details

Risk factors

  • incomplete immunization
  • exposure to infectious contact
  • international travel
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • serology
  • CBC
Full details

Tests to consider

  • viral culture
  • reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR)
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

pregnant: susceptible to and exposed to rubella

nonpregnant: symptomatic rubella

Contributors

Authors

Elisabeth Adderson, MD
Elisabeth Adderson

Associate Member

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center

Memphis

TN

Disclosures

EA declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Elizabeth Barnett, MD, FAAP

Director of International Clinical Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases

Boston Medical Center

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Boston University School of Medicine

Boston

MA

Disclosures

EB has received research grant support from Sandipasteen and Intercell and received an honorarium to attend a meeting sponsored by Novartis. She receives royalties from the sale of a book she edited.

Suzanne M. Garland, MBBS, MD, FRCPAm FAChSHM, FRANZCOG ad eundem

Director of Microbiological Research

Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Royal Women's Hospital

Senior Consultant of Microbiology

Royal Children's Hospital

Professor

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

University of Melbourne

Melbourne

Australia

Disclosures

SMG has received advisory board fees and grant support from Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and GlaxoSmithKline, and lecture fees from Merck and GSK. SMG has received funding through her institution to conduct HPV vaccine studies for MSD and GSK.

Robert S. Duszak, OD, FAAO

Co-Director of Residency Program and Consulting Staff

Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Consulting Staff

Nemours Health Clinic & Mayfair Eye Associates

Adjunct Clinical Faculty

Pennsylvania College of Optometry

Salus University

Philadelphia

PA

Disclosures

RSD declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Rubella images
  • Differentials

    • Measles (rubeola)
    • Roseola infantum (HHV-6, HHV-7, exanthem subitum, sixth disease)
    • Scarlet fever (group A Streptococcus pyogenes)
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Recommended adult immunization schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2024
    • CDC Yellow Book: health information for international travel - rubella
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Measles, mumps, and rubella: should my child have the MMR vaccine?

    More Patient information
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