Rubella (German Measles): Care Instructions

Rubella, also called German measles or 3-day measles, is a contagious infection caused by a virus. It is spread through secretions when a person coughs, sneezes, and has close contact with others.

Rubella usually is mild and does not cause long-term problems. But if you are pregnant and get it, you can pass the infection to your baby (fetus), which can cause serious birth defects.

When you have rubella, you may get a rash and a mild fever, and the lymph glands in your neck may swell. Older children often have a fever, eye pain, a sore throat, and body aches. You can treat most symptoms with care at home.

Avoid being around others, especially people who are pregnant, until your rash has been gone for at least 4 days. People who have not had this disease before or have not had the vaccine have the highest risk of getting the virus.

• Drink plenty of fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
• Get plenty of rest to help your body heal.
• Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve), to reduce fever and discomfort. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to children and teens. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• Try not to scratch the rash. Put cold, wet cloths on the rash to reduce itching.
• Do not smoke. Smoking can make your symptoms worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Avoid contact with people who have never had rubella and who have not been immunized.