Rubella

Overview of Rubella

It is also known as German Measles or 3-Day measles,[2]

Transmission – Droplet inhalation from an infected person. Neonates with congenital infection are prominent shedders of the virus, which may found, often as long as 6 months. Incubation period – 14–21 days. Period of infectivity – from 7 days before to 2 weeks after onset.

Indian epidemiology then other

Causes of Rubella

• Rubella is caused by a virus that’s passed from person to person. It can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread by direct contact with infected mucus from the nose and throat.
• It can also passed on from pregnant women to their unborn children through the bloodstream.
• A person who has infected with the virus that causes rubella is contagious for about one week before the onset of the rash until about one week after the rash disappears.
• An infected person can spread the illness before the person realizes they has it.[4]

Risk factors are things that make you more likely to develop a disease in the first place.

Pathogenesis refers to the development of a disease. It’s the story of how a disease gets started and progresses.

This is the entire journey of a disease, encompassing the cause but going beyond it.

Pathophysiology, on the other hand, focuses on the functional changes that occur in the body due to the disease. It explains how the disease disrupts normal physiological processes and how this disruption leads to the signs and symptoms we see.

Imagine a car accident. Pathogenesis would be like understanding how the accident happened – what caused it, the sequence of events (e.g., one car ran a red light, then hit another car). Pathophysiology would be like understanding the damage caused by the accident – the bent fenders, deployed airbags, and any injuries to the passengers.

In simpler terms, pathogenesis is about the "why" of a disease, while pathophysiology is about the "how" of the disease’s effects.

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Sign & Symptoms of Rubella

• Exanthem – Rash occurs more often in older children and adults on first or second day of illness, first on face and behind the ears, and then spreads downwards to trunk and limbs.
• The rash is variable but commonly starts as discrete, pink, punctate, erythematous, perifollicular macules that rapidly become confluent.
• Alternatively, there may blotchy pink rash or confluent blush. The rash seldom persists for more than 4 days and is not followed by staining or desquamation.
• Rubella without rash is common in young children. In a dark-skinned patient all that may seen is prominence of hair follicles giving a goose pimpled appearance.
• Arthralgia is common and occasionally arthritis. Distribution is usually symmetrical polysynovitis involving the small joints of hands, knees, hips and intervertebral joints, which occasionally may not remit promptly.
• Lymphadenopathy – Slight enlargement of lymph nodes, particularly of sub occipital and posterior auricular groups.
• Buccal mucous membranes – are inflamed, with blotchy erythema and prominent follicles on soft palate, accompanied by mild conjunctivitis and coryza.[1]

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Diagnosis of Rubella

• The rubella rash can look like many other viral rashes. So health care providers usually confirm rubella with the help of lab tests.
• You may have a virus culture or a blood test, which can detect the presence of different types of rubella antibodies in your blood.
• These antibodies show whether you’ve had a recent or past infection or a rubella vaccine.[4]

Complications of Rubella

• Encephalitis
• G-B syndrome
• Thrombocytopenia
• Hepatitis

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Treatment of Rubella

• Bed rest
• Analgesics suffice for the uncomplicated attack. Rubella proven by antibody estimation in first 4 months of pregnancy is a strong indication for termination.
• Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be given to control fever.[2]
• Ibuprofen reduce joint and muscle pain.

Strategies for Immunization

1. Combined MMR vaccine give routinely to all children in the second year of life, with a booster in the second decade.
2. All women screen when they reach childbearing age and immunize with monovalent rubella vaccine, if non-immune. It is necessary to maintain adequate contraceptive measures for 3 months.
3. Routine screening and immunization undertake in the immediate postnatal period. Immunized mothers excrete the vaccine virus in breast milk for up to 1 month; this is not a contraindication to vaccination or breastfeeding.
4. Adverse reactions – to vaccine limit and include transient arthralgia, and egg and neomycin hypersensitive reactions.[1]

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Homeopathic Treatment of Rubella

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.

which includes

• The medical history of the patient,
• Physical and mental constitution,
• Family history,
• Presenting symptoms,
• Underlying pathology,
• Possible causative factors etc.

A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/susceptibility) also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.

What Homoeopathic doctors do?

A homeopathy doctor tries to treat more than just the presenting symptoms. The focus is usually on what caused the disease condition? Why ‘this patient’ is sick ‘this way’?.

The disease diagnosis is important but in homeopathy, the cause of disease not just probed to the level of bacteria and viruses. Other factors like mental, emotional and physical stress that could predispose a person to illness also looked for. No a days, even modern medicine also considers a large number of diseases as psychosomatic. The correct homeopathy remedy tries to correct this disease predisposition.

The focus is not on curing the disease but to cure the person who is sick, to restore the health. If a disease pathology not very advanced, homeopathy remedies do give a hope for cure but even in incurable cases, the quality of life can greatly improved with homeopathic medicines.

Homeopathic Medicines for Rubella:

The homeopathic remedies (medicines) given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of this condition. The symptoms listed against each homeopathic remedy may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications also taken into account for selecting a remedy.

Medicines:

Aconitum napellus

• Sudden high fever with hot dry skin, pain in the eyes, strong thirst, and a fearful or panicky feeling are indications for this remedy.
• Symptoms often start near midnight, and may wake the person up.

Bryonia

• This remedy can be indicated when the rash is slow to appear, and the chest is congested with a painful cough.
• The person’s head hurts when coughing.
• Everything feels worse from motion, making the person want to stay completely still.
• Chills and shivering often come with fever, but warmth can make things worse.
• The person’s mouth may be very dry, with a thirst for long cold drinks.

Euphrasia

• When this remedy is indicated during German Measles, the eyes are swollen, streaming, and very sensitive to light.
• The tears can irritate the face, and the person’s nose may run with a bland and watery discharge.
• Headache may intensify with fever.
• The person has chills, feels worse from warmth, and prefers to stay in a darkened room.\

Pulsatilla

• This remedy is often indicated when the rash is slow to develop and the symptoms of a cold are prominent.
• A stuffy nose producing yellowish mucus, a gagging cough (most often dry at night and loose in the morning), and plugging or inflammation in the ears are common.
• The person does not feel very thirsty, is worse from warmth and stuffy rooms, and improves in open air.
• People who need this remedy often want a lot of comforting and attention.

Belladonna

• Fever that comes on rapidly, with a red flushed face, hot skin, dilated eyes that are sensitive to light.
• Throbbing headache that is worse from jarring are all indications for this remedy.
• The rash is red and may be hot to touch.
• Many children needing Belladonna have nightmares during fever and talk or cry out when apparently asleep.

Gelsemium

• A drowsy, lethargic feeling with fever, droopy eyes, and shaking chills running up and down the spine are strong indications for this remedy.
• The rash is itchy, hot, and dry.
• A headache that begins in the back of the head and neck often seen when Gelsemium is needed.

Kali bichromicum

• When this remedy indicate in German Measles, cold symptoms worsen over time.
• Hoarseness, coughing up of stringy yellow mucus, earache, and sticky eyes may be seen.
• Symptoms can worse in the morning, and the person feels best from staying in bed and keeping warm.

Rhus Toxicodendron

• An extremely itchy rash that feels better from applying heat may indicate a need for this remedy.
• The person is very restless, and may feel driven to get up and pace.
• Stiffness may felt in all the muscles of the body, worse at night, from lying still in bed, and on waking in the morning.
• The person may have chills along with fever, and all symptoms improve by warmth and motion.[3]

Diet & Regimen of Rubella

• Eliminate all suspected food allergens, including dairy (milk, cheese, eggs, and ice cream), wheat (gluten), soy, corn, preservatives, and chemical food additives. Your health care provider may want to test you for food allergies.
• Eat foods high in B-vitamins and iron, such as whole grains (if no allergy), dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), and sea vegetables.
• Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell pepper).
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy), or beans for protein.
• Use healthy oils for cooking, such as olive oil.
• Reduce significantly or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially-baked foods, such as cookies, crackers, cakes, and donuts. Also avoid French fries, onion rings, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise moderately for 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.[2]

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References use for Article Rubella

[1]Harrison-s_Principles_of_Internal_Medicine-_19th_Edition-_2_Volume_Set

[2]https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000145.htm

[3] https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/hn-2239004

[4] www.mayoclinic.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rubella?

Rubella is an exanthema caused by a RNA virus of the toga virus family.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Rubella?

• Aconitum napellus
• Bryonia
• Euphrasia
• Pulsatilla
• Belladonna
• Gelsemium
• Kali bichromicum

What is the main cause of Rubella?

Rubella is caused by a virus that’s passed from person to person.

What are the symptoms of Rubella?

• Exanthem – Rash occurs more often in older children and adults on first or second day of illness, first on face and behind the ears, and then spreads downwards to trunk and limbs.