Another term for German measles is rubella. It is also sometimes called the three-day measles. Rubella is most likely to have serious effects on your baby if you are infected during the early months of pregnancy. However, it may also affect the baby later in the pregnancy. The baby may develop a group of severe birth defects called rubella syndrome.
Rubella is caused by a virus.
It is contagious a few days before symptoms of the illness appear and for five to seven days after the illness. Rubella tends to occur in epidemics in the community. Adults may not have any symptoms. Those who have symptoms usually get a rash that starts on the chest and spreads to other parts of the body. The rash lasts three days.