A Slice of range V o l u m e
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A close look at German measles
DO YOU HAVE FEVER AND A RASH? WATCH OUT. THAT MAY BE GERMAN MEASLES--AND YOU COULD BE SPREADING IT AROUND. STOP THE GERMAN GERM IN ITS TRACKS.
M
any things German are great: German beer, German sausage,
Oktoberfest, Beethoven, and Heidi Klum. But one thing German should NOT be on this list—German measles.
A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
Editorial team Alvin Delfin Christine Llenes-Delfin Ivan Olegario, MD
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Comparison of diseases causing fever and a skin rash German measles
Measles
Roseola (rare in adults)
Chickenpox
Cause
Rubella
Rubeola
Roseola
Varicella
Fever
Low-grade
High-grade
High-grade
Low- to high-grade
Itchy redish spots
Itchy redish spots
Non-itchy rash
Blisters starting from
Rash
starting from the face
starting from the head
starting from the trunk
the trunk
Other symptoms
Joint pains, swollen
Cough, colds, eye
Rare
Muscle pains, sore
lymph nodes, and eye
redness and pain,
pain and redness
swollen lymph nodes
throat
G erman measles is a disease caused by
transient arthritis among adults. In addition,
Based on these descriptions, German
the virus, rubella. In medical books, rubella
German measles in pregnant women
measles is very similar to other viral diseases
is the more commonly used term. The word
can be disastrous by causing congenital
that show up as a fever and a rash. How
means “little red” because of the tiny red
abnormalities to the baby.
do you know which one you have? See the
rashes it causes. It was called German
table above.
measles because a German doctor was
German measles has an incubation period
the first one to discover that the disease
of two to three weeks. This means that
Importantly, the infected patient is infectious
is different from the more serious measles,
after entering your body, it takes two to
to others from one week before the rash
caused by the rubeola virus.
three weeks before you get symptoms. The
appears, to one week after the rash
symptoms of German measles are fever,
disappears. So the patient should not
In general, German measles is a mild
weakness, and a red, itchy rash on the face
report to work until one week after the rash
disease, but this is only true for children
which spreads to the body, arms and legs.
appears, or else others in the office may
with German measles. If an adult develops
As the rash subsides, the skin under the rash
get infected if they are not immunized or
German measles, the disease is usually
may flake. Other symptoms include swollen
have not had German measles before. This
more severe, and can last more than the
lymph nodes, joint pains, headache and
is also important especially if someone at
usual one to three days. It may also cause a
eye pain and redness.
work is pregnant.
Preventing German measles A single bout of German measles causes lifetime immunity. That’s why vaccination is a very effective preventive strategy. Immunization introduces a mild form of the virus, which infects the individual and activates the person’s immune system. But since the virus is weak, the body overcomes the mild infection without much symptoms. Today, the standard immunization for German measles is the MMR vaccine. This is a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). It is recommended for children, given
at 12 to 18 months of age, and a second dose at 36 months. Adults with no history of vaccination or German measles infection should also be immunized with two doses given two years apart. The vaccine has mild side effects, such as fever and joint pains. In addition, German measles is transmitted through airborne droplets. Therefore, you can prevent the virus from passing from person to person in much the same way you prevent flu virus from transmitting. These measures include:
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Frequent hand washing or regularly using an alcohol- based hand sanitizer Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue (not a handkerchief), and throwing the tissue away in a trash bin Keeping your workstation clean with an antiseptic Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth without sanitizing your hands first Avoiding close contact and congregating in groups Improving ventilation
• Keeping your body healthy and strong so that your immune system can battle the virus. This means (1) not smoking; (2) eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and vegetables; (3) taking a multivitamin supplement when somebody is sick in the office or home; (4) exercising aerobically (e.g. running, brisk walking, biking or aerobics) three to four times a week; and (5) getting six to eight hours of sleep a day.
Treating German measles German measles is a viral disease, so antibiotics will not work. It goes away on its own as the body fights off the virus. If one already has symptoms, the main goal is to get well as quickly as possible. Paracetamol or ibuprofen may be used for fever. If the rash is itchy, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine may be used. However, a fair warning, this may cause severe drowsiness.
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Congenital Rubella Syndrome
If a pregnant woman develops German measles during her pregnancy, there is a 20% chance that the baby may die. In addition, if the baby survives, there is a 51% chance that her baby will develop congenital rubella syndrome, where the baby has congenital abnormalities. These abnormalities include: • • • • • • • •
Deafness Cataracts and other eye abnormalities Heart defects “Blueberry muffin”-like skin rash Mental retardation Small head size and small chin Low birth weight Liver and spleen abnormalities
The syndrome can also occur if the mother gets a German measles immunization during pregnancy because the shot introduces a mild form of infection to the mother. The best way to prevent congenital rubella syndrome is to get an immunization 6 months before the woman gets pregnant.
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