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Pharmacy Care provides information about self-care, that is how to treat minor medical conditions with products available at the pharmacy. Find out how your pharmacist can help you to manage minor conditions yourself.
Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles, is an infectious illness caused by a virus. It is not the same as measles. Rubella is caused by a different virus and people are normally less unwell with it.
The illness, which is most common in school-aged children, is spread by coughing and sneezing. After the person has been infected by the virus it takes 14 to 21 days for the illness to develop (the ‘incubation period’).
Someone with rubella is infectious from about one week before the rash appears, and for one week after it appears, though some children may not experience a rash. Children should be kept home from school until fully recovered or for at least four days after the onset of a rash. Pregnant women should avoid contact with exposed individuals for six weeks.
The symptoms of rubella are mild and may not even be noticed, particularly in children under five years old. However, there may be:
Adults are more likely to develop complications from rubella than children. Complications include ear infections and, rarely, swelling of the brain.
Rubella is most serious if you are pregnant, particularly during your first three months of pregnancy. Rubella can be passed to your unborn baby, causing miscarriage, stillbirth or birth defects, such as deafness, cataracts, brain damage, cerebral palsy, growth retardation and heart problems. This is known as congenital rubella syndrome and is the main reason why we vaccinate. Pregnant women must be checked for rubella immunity, usually with a routine blood test in early pregnancy. If a pregnant women is exposed to a suspected or confirmed case of rubella, they should seek medical advice and be tested. There is no risk coming into contact with those just vaccinated against the disease.
Australia’s National Immunisation Program includes free immunisation for children against rubella. The rubella vaccine is given as part of the measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children who are immunised according to the schedule receive the MMR vaccine at ages 12 months and 4 years.
Women who are planning to get pregnant should visit their doctor to check if they have immunity to rubella. If necessary, they can have the rubella vaccination. Note: women who have the rubella vaccination should not try to get pregnant for one month after having the vaccine.
Meningitis is a medical emergency that can cause permanent disability and death. It involves the inflammation of the meninges, the membranes which line the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is a different infection from rubella, but as there can be some similar symptoms, it is important for parents to be aware of the signs. It is important to be aware that the vaccination available does not cover all types of meningitis, and a rash does not always appear. Meningitis can affect infants, children and adults.
Meningitis can occur very suddenly and requires immediate medical treatment; see a doctor urgently or call 000 for ambulance.
For more information on signs of meningitis, see the link in Related Health Information below.
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g. paracetamol liquid preparations (Dymadon Drops, Dymadon Suspension, Panadol (Children)); ibuprofen liquid preparations (Dimetapp Children's Ibuprofen Pain & Fever Relief Suspension, Dimetapp Infant's Ibuprofen Colour Free Pain & Fever Relief Suspension, iProfen Suspension for Children, Nurofen for Children, Nurofen for Children Infant Drops)
If you are concerned about your child there is a national 24-hour health advice helpline and also parenting helplines in each state and territory:
National helplines:
State and Territory Helplines:
Availability of medicines
Search myDr for Consumer Medicine Information
Last Reviewed: 25 September 2009
