Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyReferences

Information for Patients

View all Images (22)

Rubella in Adult
Print Captions
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Rubella in Adult

Print Patient Handout Images (22)
Contributors: Noah Craft MD, PhD, Lindy P. Fox MD, Lowell A. Goldsmith MD, MPH
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Alerts and Notices

Synopsis

Rubella (Adult) : Fever, Headache, Rash, Polyarthralgia, Rhinorrhea, Widespread distribution, Conjunctival injection
Adult
Rubella (German measles) is caused by the rubella virus, which is an RNA virus in the Togaviridae family. Transmission is through the respiratory route. Its incubation period is 14-21 days. A prodrome of irritability, malaise, mild conjunctivitis, headache, fever, adenopathy, and minimal respiratory symptoms may appear 1-7 days prior to the cutaneous eruption. An exanthematous eruption starting on the face and spreading caudally then typically appears. This rash may be absent in as many as 25% of cases.

Infection in the United States is rare, owing to widespread vaccination. There is a higher incidence in confined populations such as military bases and schools. The disease is more common in the spring and summer. Arthralgias and mild arthritis, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and testicular pain are sometimes seen. Encephalitis occurs in 1 out of 6000 cases. Pain on lateral or upward eye movement is common in this disorder. Thrombocytopenic purpura is also a rare complication.

Even in the immunocompromised host, rubella is usually a benign illness. The major impact of rubella is on the fetus of a pregnant patient and is one of the TORCH (toxoplasmosis, other [syphilis, varicella zoster, parvovirus B19], rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex) diseases. These disorders can cause fetal heart and eye malformations, cataracts, deafness, retardation, thrombocytopenic purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, intrauterine growth retardation, interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis, myocardial necrosis, and metaphyseal bone lesions.

Codes

ICD10CM:
B06.9 – Rubella without complication

SNOMEDCT:
36653000 – Rubella

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

Because most people in the United States have been immunized, the disease is rare there. Rubella should be most suspected in disadvantaged populations, migrant workers, new immigrants, etc.

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Updated:08/02/2021
Copyright © 2023 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Rubella in Adult
Captions Print   Filter Images View all Images (22)
(with subscription) Reset
A medical illustration showing key findings of Rubella (Adult) : Fever, Headache, Rash, Polyarthralgia, Rhinorrhea, Widespread distribution, Conjunctival injection
Clinical image of Rubella - imageId=915460. Click to open in gallery. caption: 'A close-up of pink macules, papules, and patches on the thigh.'
A close-up of pink macules, papules, and patches on the thigh.

+20 More images of Rubella with subscription

Copyright © 2023 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.