Measles illness during pregnancy increases rates of spontaneous abortion, premature labor, and low birth weight for infants. The risk of encephalitis is greatest in adult patients. Mumps Mumps is a common disease of children, although adults may be susceptible. Usually, it causes fever, headache and inflammation of the salivary glands, which causes the cheeks to swell. Deafness occurs at a rate of one case per 15,000 cases of mumps.
Mumps vaccine is recommended for adults, particularly males, believed to be susceptible.
Rubella Rubella, or German measles, is a common disease of children which also affects adults. Usually, it is very mild and causes a slight fever, rash, and swelling of glands in the neck. The illness lasts about 3 days. Sometimes, especially in adult women, there may be swelling and aching of the joints for a week or two. If a woman becomes ill with rubella early in pregnancy, it is very likely that she may have a miscarriage or that the child will be born with multiple birth defects.