This disease usually begins with fever, malaise and the symptoms of a cold. This stage lasts about 24 hours. This initial stage is followed by a second stage, which lasts 4-7 days, and which causes fever, chills, headache, photophobia, and dry cough. Spots then appear on the face, arms and torso. The virus is spread by direct contact with secretions of the nose and throat of an infected person.
Treatment is symptomatic.
Vaccination is available for prevention and is normally required for school attendance. Rubella is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted by contact with nasal or oral secretions of an infected person. The lesions manifest as small, irregular, pink spots or bumps that usually appear on the face before spreading to the entire body. These lesions fade within 2-3 days. Vaccination is very effective and is usually given to children at the same time as the rubeola vaccine.