Rubella in children

Babies are quite often affected by diseases, the causative agents of which are viruses. Rubella is a viral disease common among children aged 1-7 years, the main signs of which are: a rash all over the body, enlarged occipital and other lymph nodes and, of course, a low (up to 38 ° C) temperature.

The first symptom - a rash - manifests only on day 7, while the incubation period of the disease is about 2 weeks. That is, a child can infect others (and even adults) within a week before manifesting the first signs and in the first 7 days after rashes. Symptoms of rubella in children are easy to see, so parents should be careful. This is especially true of the period when the child first goes to the kindergarten.

Rubella in children - features of rashes

First of all, the rash appears in the face and neck area, on the outer surface of the hands and eventually spreads throughout the body. No discomfort in this case the child does not feel: the rash does not itch and does not itch, although there are rashes all over the body. However, these unpleasant symptoms are not the only signs of this infection. In addition to the rash, the child may have a runny nose or a mere congestion, sore throat (pershenie) and even cough. Parents can also observe inflammation of the occipital lymph nodes.

Rubella in children is not dangerous for health and does not cause complications, which can not be said about adults. Because the disease is childish, the baby suffers an easy form. An exception can only be made when there is another virus in parallel with rubella in the body. But an adult is rarely "lucky" in an easy form - he has a strong fever, intoxication, and general malaise. The rubella virus can cause other symptoms. Doctors observe in adolescents and adults and lesions of the mucous membranes of the eyes (conjunctivitis), small joints (phalanges of the fingers) and / or larger (elbows and knees).

Infection with rubella is not so unpredictable. Since it refers to viral diseases, it is transmitted directly through contact with the infected person. But if you consider that the incubation period is 14 days, then 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 the sick child, is used in the event that the carrier of the infection is known. However, there is a more effective way of preventing the disease - vaccination.

Rubella in children is a rather unpleasant disease, so this measure is not even discussed. Vaccination against the virus is included in the so-called mandatory vaccination calendar. Mostly they try to kill several birds with one stone and use the vaccine at once from three diseases: 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 lies in the fact that in the human body for 20 days, antibodies to these diseases begin to develop, which persist until the age of 20 years.

But if the child, despite all the methods of prevention, still picked up the virus and got infected, then do not be very upset. And there is no need to stock up with all kinds of drugs.

Rubella in children refers to almost the most harmless diseases (only in the event that there are no complications, that is, if the child is ill) and does not require treatment as such. The main condition is a strict bed rest and careful compliance with hygiene rules. It will be even better if you change clothes every day. Sometimes doctors can prescribe vitamins to strengthen immunity.
If complications occur during the course of the illness, then antibiotics and analgesics are prescribed. But in this case, a 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 this.