Does the blood test for rubella virus require fasting?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 12, 2024
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During the examination for rubella, blood can be drawn to test for rubella virus-specific antibodies IgG and IgM. It is best to conduct these tests on an empty stomach as fasting results are more accurate. Additionally, rubella virus can be isolated from some of the nasal secretions of the patient, though this test is more expensive and less commonly used. Rubella is a self-limiting disease; if IgM is found positive through rubella antibody testing, rubella can be confirmed and symptomatic treatment should be administered. There is no specific antiviral medication for the rubella virus.

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Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
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Can pediatric rubella be self-healing?

Children's rubella generally cannot heal on its own. Rubella in children is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by viral infection, primarily occurring in children aged 1-5 years, mostly seen in preschool children. It can occur in all four seasons, but the incidence is relatively higher in the winter and spring. Generally, this disease cannot heal on its own; it requires antiviral medication for better improvement. Without antiviral treatment, children will suffer more.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What does rubella virus mean?

Rubella virus is the pathogen of rubella, belonging to single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses. Rubella virus can easily cause vertical transmission. If pregnant women are infected with rubella virus in the early stages of pregnancy, it may enter the fetus through the placental barrier, leading to stillbirth, miscarriage, or fetal deformities. The survival ability of rubella virus outside the human body is relatively weak. It is very sensitive to ultraviolet light, ether, and common disinfectants, which can generally kill the virus. After infection with rubella virus, the disease is self-limiting, and most cases can recover on their own in about two weeks, primarily through symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rubella virus affect pregnancy?

A positive rubella virus infection indeed affects pregnancy, as the rubella virus can enter the fetus through the placental barrier, thereby easily leading to stillbirth, miscarriage, and fetal deformities. Therefore, if women of childbearing age are infected with the rubella virus, they should not get pregnant at this time. It is safer to wait until the condition has fully improved before attempting to conceive. In the early stages of pregnancy, if infected with the rubella virus, a decision on whether to continue the pregnancy should be made under the comprehensive assessment of an infectious disease specialist and an obstetrician/gynecologist, taking into account the actual situation for appropriate treatment and management.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What are the symptoms of rubella virus?

Rubella occurs after infection with the rubella virus, which is a contagious disease. The typical clinical symptoms are fever, rash, and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears and at the back of the head. Generally, the clinical symptoms are relatively mild, the course of the disease is relatively short, and the prognosis is mostly good. However, if a pregnant woman is infected in the early stages of pregnancy, it can potentially affect the growth and development of the fetus. Transmission can occur through ordinary droplets, respiratory transmission, or close contact between individuals. In terms of treatment, there are no specific drugs, and many patients can recover in about two weeks without treatment.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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The impact of rubella virus on the fetus

During pregnancy, if the pregnant woman is infected with the rubella virus, the impact on the pregnant woman herself is not significant; however, it primarily causes severe effects on the fetus. The main impact on the fetus is congenital damage, primarily involving congenital developmental abnormalities, with the early stages of pregnancy being the most critical. This period is a crucial phase of fetal development. If infected with the rubella virus, the risk coefficient can be as high as 80%. After intrauterine infection of the fetus, some patients may develop congenital rubella syndrome, primarily involving cardiac defects, cataracts, deafness, and even delayed brain damage after the baby is born.