Blueberry muffin rash from rubella: Pictures, causes, and more

Blueberry muffin rash is a distinctive rash in babies that presents as blue, purple, or dark spots on the face and body. It can occur as a result of rubella or certain other health conditions.

Rubella, also called German measles, is an airborne disease that can cause a cough, fever, and rash.

“Blueberry muffin rash” is a rash that occurs in babies who contracted rubella in the womb, known as congenital rubella syndrome.

This article reviews blueberry muffin rash in babies, possible causes, symptoms, and more.

The term “blueberry muffin rash” was coined in the 1960s. During this period, many babies contracted rubella while in the womb.

In babies who acquire rubella while in utero, the disease can cause a distinctive rash that presents as small, purplish, blister-like spots on the skin. The rash resembles the appearance of a blueberry muffin.

Certain other infections and health disorders besides rubella may also lead to blueberry muffin rash.

If a baby develops blueberry muffin rash or any other type of rash, a parent or guardian should speak with a doctor.

Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is an infection passed on to an unborn baby while they are in the womb. It occurs if the pregnant person acquires rubella during pregnancy.

Rubella infection is most dangerous to the unborn baby during the first trimester, or the first 12 weeks, of pregnancy.

If a person contracts rubella during this time, it can lead to serious congenital abnormalities in their child, including developmental delays, congenital heart disease, and cataracts. After 20 weeks, the risk of these complications decreases.

In the United States, rubella infection is rare. Vaccinations eliminated the disease in 2004. However, imported cases of rubella can still occur due to international travel.

Rubella is a viral infection that causes a rash. Often, this rash first appears on the face before spreading to other areas of the body.

In older children and adults, the rash may appear red on light skin and a darker color on dark skin.

In babies who acquired rubella in the womb, the rash can appear as small, blueish bumps that resemble a blueberry muffin.

While the term may have originated in the 1960s to describe rubella symptoms, other conditions can also result in a blueberry muffin-like rash. These include:

• congenital infections, such as herpes, syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and toxoplasmosis
• twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome
• alloimmunization, which is an immune response in the baby from pregnancy
• metabolic disorders
• certain blood disorders
• congenital vascular disorders

As a result, if a baby presents with a rash, parents or guardians should have them looked at to rule out other possible causes.

This section includes some pictures of blueberry muffin rashes in babies.

A parent or guardian should contact a doctor if a baby develops a rash that:

• appears as blue or purple raised dots on the skin
• does not go away after a few days
• has corresponding symptoms, such as fever or swollen glands

A parent or guardian should also contact a doctor again if any new symptoms appear or if the existing symptoms do not go away or get worse.

In older children and adults, a rubella rash will appear as a red, pink, or darker rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person should contact a doctor if they suspect rubella.

People who have recently given birth or are pregnant and suspect rubella exposure should also see a doctor. They may recommend testing the person, the baby, or both for rubella or other potential conditions.

Rubella can cause additional symptoms.

The first signs of infection can include:

• fever
• cough
• runny nose
• headache
• swollen lymph nodes
• mild pink eye (redness or swelling of the white of the eye)

The rash will typically develop on the face and then spread to other areas of the body.

However, 25–50% of people with rubella may never display symptoms of the infection. And a person can still transmit rubella even if they do not have symptoms.

A person should contact a doctor if they suspect they might have come in contact with rubella.

Rubella is an airborne disease, which means it spreads from person to person via droplets in coughs and sneezes.

However, a pregnant person can also pass it on to an unborn baby, which causes congenital rubella. Children born with rubella are considered contagious for up to 1 year following birth.

A person with rubella may be contagious for up to 7 days before and after a rash appears.

If a person has rubella, they should contact their friends, family, school, and workplace to notify others that they may have caught the infection.

Learn more about how rubella spreads.

Rubella is unlikely to occur in the United States due to the high level of vaccination against the infection. However, a person can still contract it during international travel, and if they are unvaccinated.

In children and adults, symptoms of rubella are generally mild. A rubella rash should go away in about 5–10 days.

However, rubella is dangerous to a fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy. If a person contracts rubella during this time, it can lead to congenital abnormalities, stillbirth, or miscarriage.

If a baby with CRS is born with congenital abnormalities, a parent or guardian may need to help address their needs during their lifetime.

To reduce the risk of contracting rubella, a person should get vaccinated before becoming pregnant and avoid foreign travel to areas where rubella is still present.

The best prevention for rubella is to get vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. A person should discuss vaccination with a doctor.

In the United States, children typically get two doses on the following schedule:

• dose 1: between 12 and 15 months old
• dose 2: between 4 and 6 years of age

Children may get an MMR vaccine earlier than 12 months if they are traveling internationally, but they still must receive the two-dose series according to the routine schedule when they return.

A parent or guardian should have an unvaccinated child avoid anyone with a known rubella infection for at least 7 days following the start of their infection.

There is no evidence that the MMR vaccine causes autism.

Diagnosis of rubella typically starts with a review of the baby’s symptoms and medical history.

After reviewing symptoms and history, the doctor will likely perform a physical examination. In some cases, they may be able to use the unique look of a blueberry muffin rash to make a diagnosis of congenital rubella in a baby.

If not, they can order blood tests to check for rubella or other possible causes of the rash if rubella is not suspected.

A rubella rash in older children and adults will look different. A person should contact a doctor if they develop a red, pink, or darker rash on their face that spreads to their body. A doctor can examine the rash and make a diagnosis.

“Blueberry muffin rash” is a term first used in the 1960s to describe a rash resulting from congenital rubella syndrome. CRS occurs in babies when a pregnant person passes rubella to them in the womb.

Vaccines eliminated rubella in the United States, but an unvaccinated person can still contract it, often from foreign travel.

In the United States, children receive two doses of the MMR vaccination. If a child does not receive the vaccination, they can contract rubella from exposure to a person who has the condition.

The rash typically goes away on its own within a week. A person is still contagious for up to 7 days following the start of their rash.

Rubella – Better Health Channel

Rubella is a viral illness that causes a skin rash and joint pain. A rubella infection is mild for most people, but it can have catastrophic consequences for an unborn baby. If a pregnant woman contracts rubella, her baby is at risk of severe and permanent birth defects or death.Rubella is sometimes called German measles, but rubella is a different viral disease to measles.Rubella is uncommon in Australia and other countries with widespread immunisation programs. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in October 2018 that Australia has eliminated rubellaExternal Link. Elimination does not mean eradication. Outbreaks may still occur, so it is important to continue vaccinating children to prevent the spread of infection to pregnant women.

Symptoms of rubella

About half of rubella cases are so mild that there are no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they usually appear between two and three weeks after infection. Some of the signs and symptoms of rubella may include:

• mild fever
• headache
• runny nose
• sore eyes
• skin rash
• swollen lymph nodes
• joint pain.

Complications of rubella

Rubella is a mild illness compared to measles and most people recover within about three days. Possible complications of rubella include:

• arthralgia – lingering joint pain that may take a month or more to get better
• otitis media – inflammation of the middle ear
• encephalitis – inflammation of the brain, which can be fatal in some cases.

Congenital rubella syndrome

A pregnant woman can spread the rubella infection to her unborn baby. This can have severe consequences such as miscarriage or birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), especially if the mother contracts the disease during the first trimester (first three months) of her pregnancy.

About nine in every 10 unborn babies exposed to rubella during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy will have a major congenital abnormality.

Birth defects associated with CRS include:

• deafness
• blindness
• heart defects
• intellectual disability
• impaired growth
• inflammation of various organs such as the brain, liver or lungs.

If you are pregnant and you suspect you may have been exposed to rubella, see your doctor.

Causes of rubella

Rubella is most commonly spread when someone ingests (swallows) or inhales the cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person. Infants with CRS shed the rubella virus in their nose and throat secretions and in their urine for months or even years.

Symptoms occur usually between 14 to 17 days (and up to 21 days). People infected with rubella are infectious for approximately one week before, and for at least four days after, the onset of the rash.

High-risk groups

As announced by the World Health Organization in October 2018, rubella has been eliminated in Australia, but cases may still occur. Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against rubella is at risk, in particular:

• travellers to (and visitors from) areas where rubella vaccination programs aren’t widespread
• childcare workers
• people who work in healthcare settings such as hospitals
• unborn babies whose mothers have low or non-existent rubella immunity.

Diagnosis of rubella

Rubella can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are vague and non-specific. For example, many illnesses other than rubella cause fever and the rash looks similar to other types of rashes. Methods used to diagnose rubella may include:

• medical history including immunisation status and travel history
• physical examination
• blood tests.

Treatment for rubella

No specific medical treatment for rubella exists and the symptoms are usually mild. Antibiotics don’t work because the illness is viral. Treatment aims to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Options may include:

• bed rest
• plenty of fluids
• paracetamol to reduce pain and fever.

It is important to isolate yourself for at least four days following the onset of the rash to reduce the risk of infecting others.

If you are pregnant and you contract rubella, discuss your treatment options with your doctor.

Immunisation against rubella

Immunisation is the best way to prevent rubella. A single rubella infection usually offers lifelong immunity for most people. Although unlikely, it is still possible to contract rubella even if you have had a vaccination or a previous rubella infection.

There are two types of rubella vaccine. In the first type, the rubella vaccine is combined with the measles and mumps vaccines and is commonly known as the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. In the second type, the rubella vaccine is combined with measles, mumps and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines and is commonly known as MMRV.

Protection against rubella is available under the National Immunisation Program ScheduleExternal Link. In Victoria, immunisation against rubella is free of charge for:

• children at 12 months – the first dose of rubella vaccine is given as the MMR combination vaccine
• children at 18 months of age – the second dose of rubella vaccine is given as the MMRV combination vaccine
• all children under 10 years of age can receive the free National Immunisation Program vaccines
• all young people 10 to 19 years of age
• women planning pregnancy or shortly after delivery – if their blood test shows they have no immunity to rubella
• children up to and including nine years – catch-up immunisations are available for children who have not been fully vaccinated
• women planning pregnancy or after the birth of their child – two doses of MMR are available for women who have low immunity or no immunity to rubella
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable people – catch-up immunisations are available for people who have not been fully vaccinated
• people born during or since 1966, without evidence of receiving two documented doses of valid MMR vaccine or without a blood test showing evidence of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella, are eligible for one or two doses of MMR vaccine. (If two MMR doses are required they should be given a minimum of 28 days apart.)

If you have not received the vaccine, ask your doctor or immunisation provider about catch-up doses.

Note :The MMRV vaccine is not recommended for people aged 14 years and over. From 14 years of age people require the MMR vaccine and a separate chickenpox vaccine.

Pregnancy and immunisation against rubella

If you are intending to become pregnant, have a blood test to check your immunity against rubella and then have a vaccination if required. This blood test is necessary because even if you have previously been vaccinated against rubella, you may not be immune.

Women who are not immune require two doses of vaccine a minimum of 28 days apart and should avoid pregnancy for at least 28 days after immunisation.

If you are already pregnant, do not receive the MMR or MMRV vaccine. If you are pregnant and not immune, avoid contact with anyone who has rubella. Arrange for an immunisation soon after you have your baby and then avoid another pregnancy for at least 28 days.

People who work with children

If you work with children, remember that you are at an increased risk of catching and passing on infectious diseases. Stay up to date with all necessary vaccinations to protect yourself and the children (and their mothers) with whom you have regular contact. Some diseases cause only a mild illness in adults, but can be very serious for young children. For example, whooping cough (pertussis) can be deadly for young babies.

People who should not be immunised against rubella

Vaccination against rubella is not recommended for some people. A person with an impaired immune system should not be vaccinated.

Some of the possible causes of impaired immunity include:

• infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or the presence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) from an HIV infection
• taking certain medications, such as high-dose corticosteroids
• having immunosuppressive treatment including chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• having some types of cancer, such as Hodgkin’s disease or leukaemia
• having an immune deficiency with extremely low levels of antibodies (hypogammaglobulinaemia, multiple myeloma or chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia).

Where to get help

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• Emergency department of your nearest hospital
• Your GP (doctor)
• Local government immunisation service
• Maternal and Child Health Line (24 hours) Tel. 13 22 29
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Immunisation Unit, Department of Health, Victorian Government Email: [email protected]
• National Immunisation HotlineExternal Link Tel. 1800 671 811
• Pharmacist
• Adverse Events Following Immunisation – Clinical Assessment Network (AEFI-CAN)External Link Tel. 1300 882 924 to report an unexpected or serious reactions to vaccination; the line is attended between 9 am and 4 pm and you can leave a message at all other times

symptoms, treatment, vaccination, photos, useful information

Causes of rubella in children

Rubella is one of the most common childhood infectious diseases. Its causative agent is a member of the togavirus family. The virus is quite stable – it is well preserved on surfaces, tolerates low temperatures and is afraid only of ultraviolet radiation.

It is very easy to become infected with rubella – just be in contact with a sick person. The fact is that rubella has an incubation period – before the acute course of the disease, the patient may not experience any unpleasant symptoms, but at the same time be contagious to others. Infection occurs by airborne droplets: in close contact with the sick person, especially when he coughs or sneezes, when using common utensils. Also, a mother, having contracted rubella during pregnancy, can transmit the virus to her child through the placental bloodstream – this form of the disease will be considered congenital. Also, the baby can become infected from a sick mother through breast milk.

According to statistics, most often rubella occurs in children aged three to nine years, but in babies under six months (with the exception of the congenital form), the disease is extremely rare. It is also noted that most cases of the disease are recorded in the cold season, and after that, a person who has been ill with rubella develops lifelong immunity to it.

Symptoms of rubella in children

As a rule, the symptoms of rubella are quite pronounced: a rash, general malaise, swollen and painful cervical lymph nodes, sometimes fever and sore throat.

The acute phase of the disease is preceded by a long (2-3 weeks) incubation period. Then the child begins to complain of malaise: his temperature may rise to 38 degrees, headaches and muscle pains occur, cervical and occipital lymph nodes increase and become painful, the baby becomes lethargic and drowsy. However, sometimes there may be no fever, and the general condition of the little patient hardly worsens. The throat is also often inflamed, a runny nose and dry cough may appear.

The main symptom is, of course, a rash that is small, pink, blotchy or papules. The first elements of the rash appear on the face and almost immediately spread throughout the body, except for the palms and feet. Most of the rash is on the buttocks, elbows and knees, on the chest and back. A rash may also appear on the soft palate. At the same time, there is no pronounced itching (as, for example, with chickenpox), and the rashes themselves do not merge with each other. After about 3-4 days, the rash begins to turn white and decrease, and on the 5-7th day it completely disappears, leaving no traces behind.

• Spotted pink rash;
• Headache;
• Temperature up to 38C;
• Enlarged and painful cervical and occipital lymph nodes;
• Sore throat, runny nose;
• Drowsiness, lethargy.

Treatment of rubella in children

If you suspect that your child has rubella, immediately limit his contact with other children (and especially pregnant women!), Then call the doctor at home. The doctor will examine the child, prescribe the necessary treatment and give recommendations for care.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by a pediatrician during the examination of the child, sometimes laboratory confirmation of rubella may be required. The first option is a virological diagnostic method: the causative agent of the disease is detected in the blood, urine or swabs from the nasopharynx. There is also a serological diagnostic method that allows you to determine the presence / absence of antibodies to the rubella virus. Blood from a vein is taken on the 5th-10th day of the disease. If class M immunoglobulins are found in the blood, this indicates that the disease is occurring right now. If class G immunoglobulins are detected, this means that the child has already had rubella and has developed immunity to it (or has been vaccinated).

Modern methods of treating rubella in children

Usually, rubella in children (unlike adults and especially pregnant women, in whom the virus can cause fetal malformations) is quite mild. Hospitalization is rarely required, for example, if the child is very young, he has concomitant chronic diseases, or the disease proceeds with complications.

Doctors do not prescribe antibiotics or antivirals to treat rubella in children. For a speedy recovery, the child is strongly recommended to observe bed rest, drink plenty of water (water, compotes, fruit drinks, herbal tea), if the temperature rises, the doctor may prescribe an antipyretic based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. Also, the child should get enough sleep, but the TV and gadgets should be limited as much as possible.

If there is a rash in the mouth, a therapeutic diet should be followed. Firstly, no salty, smoked, spicy foods, exclude all fried foods. It is better to boil, stew or bake products, the main thing is that they do not injure the oral mucosa. Broths, soups, cereals, mashed potatoes are well suited. Make sure that food and drinks are not too hot or vice versa cold.

Also try to clean the room where the sick child is located more often – ventilate it, do wet cleaning, disinfect surfaces and toys. If possible, purchase or borrow a quartz or germicidal lamp to decontaminate the room.

– If the child has a complicated form of rubella, the child is hospitalized, but most often in childhood the disease is mild, and the child can be treated on an outpatient basis. As for drug treatment: no drug has proven effectiveness, but we can prescribe symptomatic treatment. If there is a fever, give drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen. If dehydration – the child should be soldered. If a bacterial layer has occurred – only then carry out antibiotic therapy. Still, you need to remember that rubella is a virus, and doctors have not yet come up with anything against the virus, except for vaccines, explains pediatrician Dilya Aisuvakova .

Prevention of rubella in children at home

To prevent the spread of infection, the sick child is isolated until 7 days after the onset of the rash. However, the most important way to protect against rubella today is vaccination – it can be a combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, which is given to children as part of the National Immunization Schedule, or a single vaccine. Vaccination is carried out in two stages: the first time at 12-16 months, then there is a revaccination at 6 years. It is also possible to get vaccinated in adulthood if the vaccination was not carried out in childhood. This is especially true for girls and young women who have not had rubella and are preparing for motherhood.

The advantages of the vaccine include the fact that it creates long-term stable immunity to the virus (protection is almost 100%), prevents rubella during pregnancy, and therefore protects the fetus from intrauterine death and the development of severe malformations. The vaccine itself is well tolerated by children, without causing complications.

Emergency prophylaxis is also possible when rubella immunoglobulin is administered to contact children and pregnant women.

– Rubella vaccination helps at almost 9In 5 percent of cases, after vaccination, people receive strong immunity and do not get sick with rubella, and even if they suddenly get sick, the disease will proceed in a mild form and without complications. Vaccination according to our National Immunization Schedule is carried out at 12 months (together with vaccination against measles and mumps), and revaccination is carried out later at 6 years, the specialist clarifies.

Popular Questions and Answers

Pediatrician Dilya Aisuvakova will help you answer your questions.

How can you tell a rubella rash from a measles rash?

With rubella and measles, the rash is most often small, but with rubella it is very small, about 5-7 millimeters. With measles – up to 10 millimeters. At the same time, with rubella, the rash appears at the same time and looks the same – both on the head and on the legs. With measles, the rash comes out strictly in stages: on the first day – on the head and neck, on the second day – on the arms, chest, etc. Also, most often with measles, the rash is localized in the upper body and has a tendency to merge. With rubella, fusion usually does not occur. Due to the fact that with measles the rash has such a staging, for 3-4 days on the face the elements of the rash turn pale, and on the legs the rash is still fresh. Even with measles, the rash rises above the level of the skin, and with rubella it is at the same level, the skin is even to the touch.

What are the serious complications of rubella?

Serious complications from rubella are rare but do occur. These include rubella encephalitis (occurs in 5-6 thousand cases of the disease), which leads to irreversible consequences on the part of the brain, neurological problems – for example, to paralysis. The function of the nervous system is impaired without the possibility of recovery. Children are at risk of developing rubella encephalitis with reduced immunity. Other complications include arthritis (more common in adults) and neuritis (very rare).

Why is rubella dangerous for adults and especially for pregnant women?

Rubella is dangerous in adulthood, as it often leads to complications than in children – these are arthritis and polyneuritis. In addition, in adults, the disease itself is much more difficult to tolerate. They have longer and stronger fevers, and the rash can cause bacterial complications, so scars often remain on the skin after rashes. The incubation period lasts up to 21 days, and after the appearance of the rash, a person should not contact anyone for another 7 days, and this is a loss of ability to work for a sufficiently long period, which, in turn, affects the financial situation. But rubella is especially dangerous for pregnant women, because it either leads to miscarriage (in 40% of cases, according to WHO), or to congenital malformations in the fetus – pathologies of the organs of hearing, vision, congenital heart defects and other serious defects. Therefore, rubella is a medical indication for termination of pregnancy, and WHO strongly recommends that all countries be vaccinated against rubella.

Measles and rubella – Official website of the Tazovsky district

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629350, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug,
Tazovsky settlement, st. Lenina, house 11.

Telephone for citizens

(34940) 2-27-26

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(34940) 2-24-39

E-mail

[email protected]

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Measles and rubella

Measles and rubella are acute viral infections, the most “contagious” among childhood infections, but now mainly adults are ill. Infections are transmitted by airborne droplets. Also, with rubella, there is another way of transmission of infection – vertical. This is when the fetus becomes infected in utero.

Measles

The clinical picture is very typical, and any doctor can easily identify this disease. The incubation period for measles can be up to 14 days. At this time, no symptoms of the disease appear. Further, measles is divided into three periods, which differ markedly from each other:

• Catarrhal period. It comes on abruptly and is immediately characterized by severe symptoms: high fever, cough, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. At this stage of the disease are possible: purulent conjunctivitis, indigestion. On the mucous membranes of the cheeks, characteristic spots of Filatov-Koplik-Velsky appear, which look like grains of cottage cheese or semolina. The catarrhal stage lasts about four days . At the peak of the symptoms of the catarrhal period, the next stage of the development of the disease begins.

• Eruption period. Measles rash appears gradually on the body. It first appears on the face and head. On the second day, it falls on the shoulders, neck and chest. On the third day of illness, the rash covers the entire body.

• Final stage. In the last stage of the disease, the catarrhal symptoms completely disappear. The rash fades. In places of rashes, flesh-colored spots with a flaky surface are formed. Then these spots disappear without a trace, the person recovers. From the manifestation of the first clinical signs to complete recovery, 7-10 days pass.

Measles Prevention

• 2

• patients – up to the 5th day after the onset of the rash
• patients with immune deficiency – during the entire period of illness
• contact – from 8 to 17 days of contact

• Vaccination:

• planned – 12-15 months
• emergency – within the first 72 hours of contact

Rubella

The incubation period for rubella is quite long (up to 21 days). Most often, the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear 10-20 days after infection.

Rubella symptoms:

• Fever.
• Severe headache.
• Sometimes runny nose, cough, photophobia.
• Swollen lymph nodes are common in both children and adults.
• Rash. In most cases, the rash appears from the first days of the disease. It looks like small red spots of a round shape.

Complications

The rubella virus itself is not considered dangerous to the body. Its complications are dangerous. Basically, the consequences occur after the addition of a bacterial infection. Then such complications are possible: bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, encephalitis. Extremely the rubella virus has a negative effect on the fetus of a pregnant woman Depending on the gestational age, the following severe complications may occur:

• Deafness.