Rubella, most commonly known as the German Measles or the Three Day Measles, is a viral disease that mainly attacks the skin and lymph nodes of the sickened individual. Rubella is not dangerous to most individuals who contract it; however, Rubella may prove to be very dangerous in women in the first two trimesters of pregnancy, as the disease can be transmitted to the fetus through the mother's blood and result in a miscarriage or serious birth defects. The virus that causes Rubella is contagious. The virus is able to spread between individuals through the air, as after a sneeze or cough.
The symptoms of Rubella may vary based on the age of the infected individual. In young children, Rubella first manifests itself as a rash that spreads across the body from the neck and head, and then causes fever and flu-like symptoms. In older children and adolescents, the rash is preceded by a flu-like or respiratory infection. In adult men and women, Rubella often causes muscle or joint pain that can last for several weeks before any other symptoms occur.
However, as with many other viruses, a good percentage of those infected with the Rubella causing virus never show any related symptoms. As with any other viral infection, there is no way to treat or cure Rubella. The disease must simply run its course as the body's own antibodies fight it off. However, there is a preventative vaccine, the Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine (MMR), which has proven very effective in preventing individuals from contracting the disease in the first place. The vaccine is usually administered to young children, but it is available for older individuals who have not yet been immunized due to vaccine or exposure to the disease.