What Is the Difference Between Measles and Rubella Symptoms Causes and Prevention
What is Measles?
Measles is a highly infectious disease caused by an RNA virus, known as a paramyxovirus. The virus can remain alive in the air for a maximum of two hours.
Disease incubation is from 1 to 2 weeks but symptoms can last up to 10 days.
During the early symptoms (prodromal stage) of the disease it is most contagious and the person remains infectious for quite some time. Approximately 90 percent of exposed people get sick with the measles.
People become infected when they come into contact with droplets created by sick people who cough or sneeze.
Symptoms Include:
Fever, Cough, runny nose.
Conjunctivitis, an infection of the outer membrane of the eye; eyes are typically red and watering.
Photophobia (eyes are sensitive to the light.)
Enanthem present (Rash found on mucus – producing membranes).
Koplik spots (small rash found on the epithelial membrane which lines the inside of the mouth)
Consequences:
Measles can cause serious illness in some people which leads to brain swelling and even blindness. Measles can even cause death from infections such as pneumonia, and less commonly, encephalitis.
Vaccination:
If people are immunized Measles can be prevented. The vaccine against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) provides protection against the infection. The prevalence of measles in the population has declined with widespread vaccination.
What is Rubella?
Rubella is a virus that also has RNA as its nucleic acid. It can be transmitted by respiratory secretions, from coughing or sneezing individuals, similar to the measles.
People who are infected are infectious for up to a week before showing symptoms and for about two weeks after developing symptoms.
It is also called German measles and is not as infectious as measles. The disease can take about 2 to 3 weeks to incubate.
Symptoms May Include:
Mild fever (less than 38.3o Celcius), general fatigue, conjunctivitis, and swollen lymph nodes. In some patients even, sore joints can occur.
Painful swollen lymph nodes are normal in the neck and the back of the throat turns reddish in color.
There are no early symptoms (a prodromal stage), in rubella. Rubella has some similar symptoms to measles because rash and fever occur.
Rubella is very dangerous for pregnant women and can cause newborn problems such as deafness, microcephalus and even stillbirths. It can even cause cataracts and neonatal heart defects if the mother is exposed during pregnancy.
Vaccination:
MMR vaccine is the best defense against rubella. Rubella incidence decreased as vaccination programs started.
What Is The Difference Between Measles And Rubella?
Measles is much more infectious and dangerous a disease than rubella.
In measles there is a prodromal stage whereas Rubella does not have a prodromal stage.
Incubation in measles takes 1 to 2 weeks, in rubella it takes 2 to 3 weeks to complete.
The measles symptoms can last up to 10 days, while rubella symptoms usually last up to 5 days.
Swollen lymph nodes are always present with rubella but not always with measles.
Koplik spots are a measles symptom while Forschheimer spots are a rubella symptom.
Photophobia is common in measles, but is not present in rubella.
The temperature in measles can be as high as 40oC; the rubella fever appears to be less than 38.3o
The measles rash consists of blotches that last a while and the rubella rash consist of spots that fade rapidly.
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Rubella vs Rubeola (Measles)
Summary:
Measles which rubella are both caused by an RNA virus which transmitted through the respiratory droplets that sick people produce.
Measles is more severe than rubella, and highly contagious.
Though both measles and rubella have similar symptoms such as rash, the fever between the two is slightly different.
Rash, and symptoms of measles last longer than rubella.
Though measles does, Rubella has no prodromal period.
Rubella causes fever to small and does not last long. As in the case of measles, the pupils are also not sensitive to light.
Measles and rubella in a pregnant woman can both cause problems for the fetus.
A person with the MMR (mumps measles rubella) vaccine may be vaccinated against both of these diseases.
FAQs on Difference Between Measles and Rubella in Detail
1. What is the difference between measles and rubella?
The main difference between measles and rubella is that measles is a more severe viral disease caused by the measles virus, while rubella is a generally milder infection caused by the rubella virus but can cause serious birth defects during pregnancy.
- Measles: High fever, cough, red eyes, and a widespread rash; can lead to pneumonia or encephalitis.
- Rubella (German measles): Mild fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rash; dangerous in pregnancy due to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
- Both are preventable with the MMR vaccine.
2. What causes measles and rubella?
Measles and rubella are caused by two different viruses belonging to different viral families.
- Measles is caused by the measles virus, a member of the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae.
- Rubella is caused by the rubella virus, belonging to the genus Rubivirus in the family Matonaviridae.
- Both viruses spread mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing.
3. How do the symptoms of measles and rubella differ?
The symptoms of measles are usually more severe than those of rubella and include characteristic Koplik spots.
- Measles symptoms: High fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, Koplik spots inside the mouth, followed by a red blotchy rash.
- Rubella symptoms: Mild fever, swollen lymph nodes (especially behind the ears), and a fine pink rash.
- Rubella is often mild or even asymptomatic in children and adults.
4. What are Koplik spots and in which disease do they appear?
Koplik spots are small white lesions inside the mouth that are a characteristic early sign of measles.
- They appear on the inner lining of the cheeks before the skin rash develops.
- They look like tiny white grains with a red background.
- Koplik spots are not seen in rubella.
5. How does the rash of measles differ from the rash of rubella?
The measles rash is darker, more extensive, and longer-lasting than the lighter rash of rubella.
- Measles rash: Red, blotchy, starts on the face and spreads downward; lasts about 5–7 days.
- Rubella rash: Fine pink rash, spreads quickly from face to body; usually fades within 3 days.
- Measles rash is often accompanied by high fever, while rubella rash is linked to mild symptoms.
6. Why is rubella dangerous during pregnancy?
Rubella is dangerous during pregnancy because it can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the developing fetus.
- The virus can cross the placenta and infect the fetus.
- CRS may cause deafness, heart defects, cataracts, and developmental delays.
- The risk is highest during the first trimester of pregnancy.
7. How are measles and rubella transmitted?
Measles and rubella are transmitted through airborne respiratory droplets from infected individuals.
- Spread occurs via coughing, sneezing, or close contact.
- Measles is highly contagious and can remain in the air for up to two hours.
- Rubella is less contagious but still spreads easily in unvaccinated populations.
8. How can measles and rubella be prevented?
Measles and rubella can be effectively prevented by the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine).
- The vaccine contains live attenuated viruses.
- It is usually given in two doses during childhood.
- Vaccination provides long-lasting immunity and helps achieve herd immunity.
9. What are the complications of measles compared to rubella?
Measles causes more severe complications than rubella, especially in young children and immunocompromised individuals.
- Measles complications: Pneumonia, encephalitis, diarrhea, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
- Rubella complications: Usually mild, but may cause arthritis in adults and congenital defects in fetuses.
- Measles has a higher risk of hospitalization and mortality.
10. Are measles and German measles the same disease?
No, measles and German measles are different diseases caused by different viruses.
- Measles is caused by the measles virus and is more severe.
- German measles is another name for rubella, caused by the rubella virus.
- Despite similar names and rash symptoms, they differ in severity, complications, and viral classification.
