Kids are often affected by diseases whose causative agents are viruses. Rubella is a common viral disease among children aged 1–7 years, the main signs of which are: rash throughout the body, enlarged occipital and other lymph nodes, and, of course, low (up to 38 C) temperature.
The first symptom - a rash - appears only on day 7, while the incubation period of the disease is about 2 weeks. That is, the child can infect others (and even adults) during the week before the first signs appear and in the first 7 days after the rashes. Signs of rubella in children are not difficult to notice, so parents should be careful. This is especially true for the period when a child first goes to kindergarten.
Rubella in children - features of rashes
First of all, the rash appears in the face and neck, on the outer surface of the hands and eventually spreads throughout the body. In this case, the child does not feel any discomfort: the rash does not itch and itch, although there are rashes throughout the body. However, these unpleasant symptoms are not the only signs of this infection. In addition to the rash, a child may have a runny nose or simply congestion, sore throat (sore) and even a cough. Also, parents can observe inflammation of the occipital lymph nodes.
Rubella in children is not dangerous to health and does not cause complications, which can not be said about adults. Since the disease is childhood, the baby suffers a mild form. An exception can be made only when there is another virus in the body along with rubella. But an adult rarely has “luck” with a mild form - he has severe fever, intoxication, and general malaise. Rubella virus can cause other symptoms. Doctors observe in adolescents and adults and damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes (conjunctivitis), small joints (phalanx of the fingers) and / or larger (elbow and knee).
Rubella infection is not so unpredictable. Since it refers to viral diseases, it is transmitted directly through contact with an infected person. But given that the incubation period is 14 days, it is extremely difficult to calculate the carrier. That is why in the kindergarten quarantine is declared for a period of 2 weeks.
This method, that is, isolation for a certain period of a sick child, is used if the carrier of infection is known. However, there is a more effective way to prevent the disease - vaccination.
Rubella in children is a rather unpleasant disease, so this measure is not even discussed. Vaccination against the virus must be included in the so-called calendar of mandatory vaccinations. They mainly try to kill several birds with one stone and use a vaccine against three diseases at once: rubella, measles and mumps. The drug is administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly in the period of 12-15 months, as well as a 6-year-old child. The effect of this drug is that in the human body for 20 days antibodies to these diseases begin to develop, which persist until the age of 20.
But if a child, despite all the methods of prevention, still caught the virus and became infected, then you should not be very upset. And stocking up with all kinds of drugs is also not necessary.
Rubella in children is almost one of the most harmless diseases (only if there are no complications, that is, if the child is sick) and does not require treatment as such. The main condition is strict bed rest and careful hygiene. It will be even better if you change clothes every day. Sometimes doctors can prescribe vitamins to strengthen immunity.
If complications arose during the course of the disease, then antibiotics and analgesics must be prescribed. But in this case, the patient with rubella should be hospitalized - so that his condition is not further aggravated. Thus, rubella in children is not a tragedy, and it can be defeated. The main thing is to know how to do it.