What causes rubella?

Rubella is an acute infectious disease caused by rubella virus. Rubella will cause low fever and swollen lymph nodes. Generally, the course of mild rubella is very short and can be cured quickly through scientific treatment. If a pregnant woman develops rubella, it will have a great impact on the fetus. Let's take a look at what causes rubella.

Rubella is a contagious disease. It is generally the most common among children. Rubella will cause headaches, low fever, fatigue, and occasionally diarrhea. It is important for everyone to know what causes rubella, which will help with timely prevention and treatment.

Causes

Rubella virus is an RNA virus belonging to the Togaviridae family and is a virus restricted to humans. The antigenic structure of rubella virus is quite stable, and only one antigenic type is known. Rubella virus can survive and multiply in the placenta or fetus (and months or even years after birth), causing long-term, multi-system chronic progressive infection. This virus can grow in cell cultures such as rabbit kidney, milk vole kidney, green monkey kidney, and rabbit cornea, and can agglutinate poultry, birds, and human "O" type red blood cells. The virus has weak vitality outside the body and is sensitive to ultraviolet light, ether, cesium chloride, deoxycholic acid, etc. It can be inactivated when pH < 3.0. This virus is not heat-resistant.

1. Source of infection

Patients are the only source of infection for rubella, including those with subclinical or latent infections, whose actual number is higher than that of patients, and therefore they are an important source of infection that is easily overlooked. The infectious period is 5 to 7 days before and 3 to 5 days after onset of the disease, and the disease is most contagious on the day of onset and the day before. The virus can be isolated from the patient's oral, nasal, and pharyngeal secretions, as well as blood, urine, and feces.

2. Transmission routes

Generally, rubella in children and adults is mainly transmitted by droplets through the respiratory tract, and can also be transmitted through close contact between people. Newborns infected in the womb can excrete the virus, especially in the throat, for weeks, months or even more than a year. Therefore, they can infect medical staff and family members who lack antibodies through contaminated bottles, nipples, clothes, diapers and direct contact, or cause the virus to spread in the nursery. If the fetus is infected, it may cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or congenital rubella with various congenital malformations.

3. Susceptible population

Rubella is generally more common in children aged 5 to 9 years old, and it is also uncommon in young people, adults and the elderly during the epidemic period. Rubella is more common in winter and spring. In recent years, the disease has occurred more frequently in spring and summer, and can be prevalent among gathering groups such as kindergartens, schools, and the military.

Everyone should know more about what causes rubella. Rubella is a highly contagious disease and an acute infectious disease. It is the most common among children. In the spring, everyone should be able to prevent the occurrence of rubella in time, especially in school. If rubella occurs, it should be treated as soon as possible.