Rubella, also called German measles, is a viral infection that a baby can get from the mother before birth. If you have this infection during pregnancy, it can harm the baby. Rubella is also sometimes called the three-day measles. 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 5 to 7 days after symptoms appear. Rubella tends to occur in epidemics in the community. Adults may not have any symptoms. Some of these problems may not appear until later in a child's life. When you are sick, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and examine you.