Rubella is a mild but contagious disease caused by a virus that especially affects children. Contagion occurs during an 11-day period or, to be more precise, between 5 and 6 days after the eruption. Congenital rubella is transmitted from the infected mother to the foetus during pregnancy. The risk of contamination is greatest during the first 3 months of gestation (90%) and gradually decreases until the fifth month (25%). Pregnant women that are infected present major risks of foetal congenital malformations, particularly during the early weeks of pregnancy. This is the reason why termination of pregnancy is often advocated from the moment that the rubella infection is confirmed.
Rubella is characterized by skin rashes accompanied by fever and swollen glands. The onset of fever usually occurs after a 2-week incubation period. The temperature reaches 38 ° C, spreads to the trunk and may last for several hours. Furthermore, the throat becomes sore and turns red and the patient has swollen glands. However, a quarter of rubella cases do not lead to any symptoms and spontaneously heal within 72 hours. In women, adults and adolescents, other symptoms like pain in the the joints may also be diagnosed. In extreme cases, the condition may lead to the onset of arthritis. Complications are rare, the most common of which are neurological damage or thrombocytopenia.
Various homoeopathic treatments exist and are tailored for each phase of the disease. During the invasion phase, 4 to 5 daily intakes of Ferrum Phosphoricum 5 CH may be prescribed. When this phase is over, it is advisable to take a dose of Pulsatilla 15 CH during four days, especially when the symptoms are mild. If the rash is severe, it will be necessary to substitute this treatment for intakes of Belladonna 5 CH in order to help the patient’s body relieve fever, which becomes quite important, in proportion the rashes’ severity. The doctor may also prescribe homoeopathic remedies to help the patient deal with typical symptoms. Finally, it will be possible to resort to Mercurius solubilis in case of perspiration, intense thirst and lymphadenopathy.
A medical consultation is imperative for pregnant women. For this purpose, it is recommended to proceed to a check-up of the patient’s immune status in regard to rubella from the first signs of pregnancy. Furthermore, it is also advisable to proceed to MMR vaccination in the month following the beginning of pregnancy.
Good to know: Childhood illnesses such as chickenpox and rubella may be treated with homoeopathy. However, it is advisable to consult a homoeopath given that only these health professionals can prescribe the most suitable treatment to the young patient.
