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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Photograph of rubella rash Rubella

Rubella, also called German measles or three-day measles, is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash.

Rubella is not the same as measles (rubeola), though the two illnesses do share some characteristics, including the red rash. However, rubella is caused by a different virus than measles and is neither as infectious nor usually as severe as measles.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, usually given to children in the United States twice before they reach school age, is highly effective in preventing rubella. Because of widespread use of the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared rubella eliminated in the United States, but cautions parents to make sure their children are vaccinated to prevent its reemergence.

Symptoms
References
  1. Q&As about vaccination options for preventing measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/combo-vaccines/mmrv/vacopt-faqs-hcp.htm. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  2. Rubella: Make sure your child is fully immunized. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rubella/. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  3. Hall CB. Rubella. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  4. Rubella. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch193/ch193e.html. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  5. Mason WH. Rubella. In: Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/2087468196/0/1608/0.html. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50246-2&isbn=978-1-4160-2450-7&sid=1164904620&uniqId=252862957-8#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50246-2. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  6. Reef SE. Rubella. In: Brunette GW, et. al. CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010: The Yellow Book. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/rubella.htm. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  7. Rubella. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  8. Riley LE. Rubella in pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  9. Parker AA, et al. Measles (rubeola). In: Brunette GW, et. al. CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010: The Yellow Book. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/measles.htm. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  10. Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Vaccines/MMR/MMR.html. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  11. Possible side effects from vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  12. Reef S, et al. Rubella. In: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  13. Congenital rubella syndrome. In: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  14. Rubella disease in-short (German measles). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rubella/in-short-adult.htm#who. Accessed May 30, 2011.
  15. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 1, 2011.
DS00332 July 9, 2011

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

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