German Measles

Signs and Symptoms

1. Swollen glands, usually in the neck.

2. Fever of 102 degrees or lower.

3. By the second or third day a rash appears, generally starting on the face and spreading to the chest and back, then the arms and legs.

4. Tiny red or pink spots or irregular marks or rashes, and usually lasts only a few days.

5. Painful, aching joints, especially in adolescents.

What to do now

1. Make sure your child feeling comfortable.

2. Provide him or her with lots of liquids.

3. Give your child acetaminophen for discomfort. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who has German measles, chicken pox, flu, or any other illness your suspect of being caused by a virus).

4. Keep your infected child away form other children, pregnant women and any adults who are vulnerable. A person with rubella is contagious from two days before and up to one week after the rash appears.

When to call a doctor

1. If you suspect that your child has rubella.

2. If your child has rubella or had it recently, and develops symptoms such as a stiff neck, sever headache or lethargy. Though happens rarely but this could signal meningitis.

3. If you are pregnant and have not been immunized against measles.

4. If you are pregnant, have been immunized in the past, and may have been exposed to rubella. You need to find out whether you are still immune.

How to prevent it

1. Make sure your children get the MMR (Measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines.

2. If you’re a woman and you weren’t immunized in childhood, you’ve never had rubella, and you’re considering having children, get the rubella vaccine at least three months before you get pregnant. The vaccine should never be given during pregnancy.

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