What is Rubella?
By Vicki Nott.
It’s not unusual to be asked ‘what is rubella’ now, because the virus is not heard of so much in the community.
Rubella is a less common illness now due to widespread vaccination. The rubella immunisation started in Australia in 1971 and over the last 49 years, with excellent levels of community vaccination, we have reached a time when rubella virus is less common in Australia.
If you contract rubella, it will usually cause a mild ‘cold’ type illness and a mild red rash. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
For most people, this wouldn’t bother them too much, however if you are pregnant, and do not have rubella immunity, if you contract the rubella virus, it can lead to a number of problems in your unborn baby. Rubella can cause miscarriage, blindness and severe developmental delay in your baby.
Your obstetrician will always check your immunity to rubella, but unfortunately, you can’t be vaccinated during pregnancy.
You can check your level of immunity to rubella before you get pregnant, your obstetrician or GP can check this for you.
If you’d like an appointment for a pre-pregnancy discussion, call the rooms today on 03 9415 6077.
If you do need protection from rubella, you can have a booster shot to protect yourself and any future babies.
If you have any form of a rash, you should call your obstetrician or GP to have it looked at.