Rubella

Diagnosis

Your doctor will perform a physical examination on you and, if you have a rash, examine it to determine whether you have rubella. They may check your blood, urine, or mucus from your throat or nose for rubella signs.

Tests done for rubella diagnosis:

• Blood tests. Your doctor will use a tiny needle to draw a little sample of blood from your arm. They’ll check for antibodies to rubella, which would indicate that you are now ill, have previously had rubella, or have received a rubella vaccination.
• Nasal or throat swabs. Your doctor will take a sample from your throat or nose using a soft–tipped stick (swab). The sample will undergo a rubella test in a lab.
• Urine tests. You’ll urinate into a clean cup. Your urine will be examined in a lab for indications of rubella.

You are currently infected with rubella if tests on your nose, throat, or pee yield positive results. If the results of your blood test for rubella are positive, you have antibodies to the disease. Antibodies are unique proteins with the ability to recognize particular invaders, such as viruses and bacteria.

If you test positive even though you’re healthy, this indicates that you’ve either had rubella before or had the immunization. If you have antibodies against rubella, your immune system is likely capable of destroying it before you become ill, making you more likely to be immune to the disease.

Treatment

Rubella cannot be treated with any one particular medication. Usually, things get better on their own. Symptoms may be managed at home using over–the–counter drugs. To stop the spread of rubella, your doctor could advise quarantining you away from other people.

Managing symptoms

The majority of the time, you may treat rubella symptoms at home with over–the–counter medications like acetaminophen (also marketed as paracetamol) or cough and cold remedies. Find out from your doctor how to treat your symptoms the most effectively. Before giving your child a rubella medicine, consult with your pediatrician.