Rubella is a treatable disease. The greatest risk of infection is pregnant women, because there is a risk of fetal infection and even death. It is important to timely detect antibodies to rubella virus, which indicate that there is a causative agent in the blood.
Features of infection
IgG rubella antibodies begin to be detected in the blood 3 weeks after infection. After recovery, antibodies will be present in the blood for life. This allows you not to get infected again.
Rubella virus is not able to live in the environment. In order to become infected, contact with the sick is necessary. Diseases are most often affected by preschool children. A pregnant woman, if she has not been ill earlier, remains at risk of infection, which can lead to severe malformations of the child.
Children tolerate the disease easily; an adult may develop complications such as polyarthritis or encephalitis.
If a woman becomes infected in the first trimester of pregnancy, then the child will have congenital malformations. The central nervous system, heart, eyes and hearing organs are more often affected. Pregnant women must be tested for rubella in every trimester.
Symptoms of the disease
The first signs of the disease are very similar to other viral infections. There is a risk of confusing it with acute respiratory infections, enterovirus infection or an allergic reaction. Class G antibodies to rubella virus are given to confirm the diagnosis.
The main symptoms are:
- temperature increase up to +38 ;
- redness of the throat;
- runny nose, nasal congestion;
- weakness;
- conjunctivitis;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- a few days later small red spots appear on the body.
The rubella rash does not rise above the surface of the skin, it can not be felt. When pressed, the spots disappear and quickly appear. Most common on the elbows, under the knees, on the buttocks. After 2-3 days, red spots disappear.
With an atypical disease, the rash does not appear, then the doctor may not make the correct diagnosis. Suspicion that the patient is ill with rubella occurs if, shortly before the symptoms, there was contact with the patient.
Indications for analysis
The doctor directs the patient for analysis of antibodies to the rubella virus in the following cases:
- Women during pregnancy. The analysis is included in the list of mandatory manipulations.
- With fetal pathology or suspected infection.
- When planning a pregnancy. For 2-3 months, it is desirable to analyze for the presence of antibodies. In their absence, it is necessary to vaccinate.
- When symptoms of the disease occur. If rubella is suspected, even in the absence of a rash, tests are performed to select a treatment.
- With an increase in lymph nodes, an analysis is prescribed to exclude infection.
You can take tests in state or paid clinics. In private, you can avoid queues and in more comfortable conditions for a small fee, pass an analysis, as well as come at a convenient time. The price depends on the speed of implementation, the level of the clinic, the quality of materials and equipment.
Rubella serodiagnosis
Blood is used to determine any class of rubella virus antibody. There are two ways to detect a virus:
- the presence of the virus in the blood;
- the presence of rubella virus G antibodies.
The most indicative results are the presence of class G and M immunoglobulins. The higher the titer, the higher the virus content in the blood. Decipher the tests should be a doctor with experience.
To detect class M immunoglobulins, blood sampling should be done no later than 12 days from the time of the disease. If a repeated examination of the blood reveals that the antibodies have increased 4 times, then it can be argued that the patient is sick with rubella. They are in the blood for 2-3 weeks and gradually disappear.
In the presence of only class G immunoglobulins, they conclude that the person was ill and developed stable immunity for life. Class G immunoglobulins appear later than M, which means that antibodies to rubella virus have begun to be produced in the body and recovery will soon come. The determination of IgG is necessary in order to determine immunity to the rubella virus after an illness or vaccination.
To identify antibodies M in the acute period of infection, statistics exist. When analyzing the first day of rashes, antibodies in the blood are found in only half of those diagnosed. On day 5, the number of patients with a positive diagnosis increases to 90%. On days 11-25, antibodies appear in all cases of rubella. IgM indicate that the person became ill for the first time. 6 months after the disease, antibodies are found in 50% of patients. Sometimes indicators remain up to 1 year.
In a newborn infected in utero, antibodies are detected within 6 months. If parvovirus B16 is in the blood, then the results are false positive.
Virological diagnostic method
To detect the virus by this method, antibodies to rubella virus are not diagnosed. The causative agent of the disease is detected in the blood. The method is more informative, but it can only be used for a period of 7-14 days from the time of illness. But during this period, the rash has not yet appeared, and the patient and the doctor did not suspect the presence of this disease.
This method is often used to detect infection of the fetus. Analysis for the detection of antibodies suggests with a high degree of probability that the patient has rubella. The presence of the virus in the blood allows you to definitely make a diagnosis.
The most reliable analysis for determining the rubella virus is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The virus gene is determined in the laboratory.
Differential diagnosis
After passing all the tests, the doctor makes a diagnosis. Rubella is similar in symptoms to other diseases, so it is important to exclude:
- measles;
- ARI;
- Infectious mononucleosis;
- scarlet fever;
- pseudotuberculosis;
- exanthema and others
If antibodies of class M are not found, and antibodies to rubella virus of class G are found, then this disease is excluded and diagnostics for other diseases is carried out.
Deciphering the results
Decryption of the test results should be done by an experienced doctor. You cannot diagnose and prescribe treatment yourself. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor needs an anamnesis of the disease, a general blood test and the results of studies from the laboratory.
With the serological method, if the rubella virus G antibody score is less than 0.4, this indicates a possible infection in the last 3-4 months. With a result of more than 0.6, it can be argued that there was no disease. If the laboratory determined from 0.4 to 0.6, then it is necessary to retake the tests after 2 weeks.
When diagnosed by ELISA, the presence of antibodies is deciphered as follows:
- IgM-, IgG- a person is healthy, but vaccination is required;
- IgM-, IgG + in the past, the patient was ill and has stable immunity;
- IgM +, IgG- infection has occurred, is at the initial stage;
- IgM +, IgG + a person is sick, the disease is in full swing.
When a virus is detected in the blood by PCR, the presence or absence of the virus in the blood is determined. A positive result indicates the presence of the disease, a negative one indicates the absence.
Rubella danger
Rubella is a disease that is usually transmitted without complications in childhood. In adults, it can be unpleasant. For some population groups, the disease can be dangerous:
- Pregnant women. The virus infects the fetus and leads to severe developmental disorders of the child.
- Patients with concomitant chronic diseases. The virus aggravates the course of the disease.
- People with impaired immunity. In the absence of the fight against the disease and the absence of antibodies to the rubella virus, the disease becomes the cause of serious complications.
Rubella complications may include the following:
- arthritis;
- pneumonia;
- angina;
- pathology of the fetus;
- encephalitis;
- thrombocytopenic purpura;
- serous meningitis.
Fetal pathologies with infection through the placenta occur much more often if the infection occurred in the first trimester. The virus disrupts the process of cell division, which leads to impaired development, a change in blood circulation and possible fetal death.
When infected during this period, the woman is offered to terminate the pregnancy. In case of refusal, rubella serum is administered, but it is ineffective and has many side effects.
Disease treatment
Treatment if positive antibodies against rubella virus are detected is carried out on an outpatient basis, hospitalization is not required. The doctor prescribes drugs that relieve the symptoms of the disease. This is the elimination of intoxication, lowering body temperature, taking antihistamines.
The disease goes away on its own after the body develops antibodies. But to alleviate the condition of the patient, it is necessary to follow the recommendations:
- Sleep at least 10 hours a day, which will allow the body to fight infection.
- Drink plenty of warm fluids. High temperature causes increased sweating, to prevent dehydration, the body needs additional water.
- If itching occurs on the skin, sunburn remedies can be used.
- Add foods rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and enhances the production of phagocytes.
Vaccination is used to prevent rubella. Inoculate children aged 1 year. If you live in an epidemic area, you can get the vaccine earlier. Revaccination is carried out at 6 years. For girls, vaccination is important so as not to get infected during pregnancy in the future.