Rubeola or Rubella??

Written on Monday, March 16, 2009 by KayChink

YO! Chingus!

Recently there was an epidemic alert in my hostel regarding to Rubella disease where 3 students got infected. What is Rubella actually? Many of you might be confused with the term Measles with Rubella. Actually, both of them are 2 different things, got no connection and totally unrelated at all, beside the fact that both are almost called the same. 

Rubeola is the term for Measles and Rubella is also known as German Measles.

"But both are measles maaa! Only that one come from German, and the other one don't know from where!"

Well, it is very hard to distinguish the differences between these viruses. They all have the same general appearance, which is a red papules all over the body. The best way to tell the difference is by determining the origin of the virus. 

1. Etiology 

Rubeola (Measles) is caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbiliviruses are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses.

Rubeola Virus (Paramyxovirus)

Rubella (German Measles) is caused by Togavirus which is enveloped, single stranded and positive-sense RNA virus.

Rubella Virus (Togavirus)

2. Symptoms

A) Rubeola

1. Fever up to 40° Celsius
2. Cough
3. Runny nose (coryza)
4. Rash
5. Conjunctivitis

B) Rubella

1. Slight fever (rarely exceed 38°Celsius)
2. Swelling of lymph glands
3. Runny nose (coryza)
4. Rash (starts from the face and then spread to the limbs)
5. Joint pain

3. Route of Transmission

Both spread through respiration and highly contagious. 

4. Prevention

According to 'Program Imunisasi Malaysia' the first dose of vaccine against Measles and Rubella, known as MMR vaccine were administered to children aged 12 months. MMR is a vaccine made of inactivated strands of Measles, Mumps and Rubella viruses.  

The second dose were given at the age of 4-7. The second dose is not a booster; it is a dose to produce immunity in the small number of persons (2-5%) who fail to develop measles immunity after the first dose.

The third dose were given at the age of 15. This dose were only given to girls because during that age, most of them have reached their puberty. What is the significant of that? Rubella is a mild disease. But, it can become dangerous and lethal if transmitted to the baby during pregnancy. The disease is called congenital rubella syndrome.

The syndrome (CRS) follows intrauterine infection by Rubella virus and comprises cardiac, cerebral, ophthalmic and auditory defects. It may also cause prematurity, low birth weight, and neonatal thrombocytopenia, anaemia and hepatitis.

That is the main idea of these diseases. Now, as a prophylactic measure, all students here in Moscow are advised to take vaccination. Well.... as for me, I don't think that it is a need to do so since we already got our vaccinations in Malaysia. (I don't know exactly whether I have already been vaccinated or not, but I just simply don't want to go mainly because of the needle!!)

So, guys.. if you got some of the symptoms mentioned, please refer to the doctors and get yourself treated. Don't go around and sneeze in front of people! huhu! 

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading. Till the next post then. Chiaoz~