The incubation period of rubella varies between two and three weeks. The patient can transmit the virus during a period from one week before the appearance of the rash to five days after its onset. Quarantine is usually three weeks. There may be swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears and down the side of the neck. The rash spreads from the face down the whole body and usually lasts between two and four days.
Treatment includes rest, a liquid diet, and acetaminophen for the fever.
The physician may test her blood for rubella antibodies, which, if present, will prevent the infection and, therefore, any risk to the unborn child. If the blood is low in antibodies, further tests are needed to see whether an infection has occurred, with the possibility that the child has been affected. Rubella vaccine, combined with mumps and measles vaccines, is given to children aged 12 to 15 months and a booster is given at 5 years of age or older.