Understanding Rubella Go Back to The Archives Page. Rubella is a viral disease characterized by slight fever, rash and swollen glands. Most cases are mild. In unvaccinated populations, rubella is primarily a childhood disease. Where children are well immunized, adolescent and adult infections become more evident.
Rubella occurs more frequently in winter and spring.
Rubella is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected individuals. Rubella is a mild illness which may present few or no symptoms. Symptoms may include a rash, slight fever, joint aches, headache, discomfort, runny nose and reddened eyes. The rash, which may be itchy, first appears on the face and progresses from head to foot, lasting about three days. As many as half of all rubella cases occur without a rash.