Does the blood test for rubella virus require fasting?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 12, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
46sec home-news-image

Rubella virus antibody is associated with rubella.

Rubella antibodies include rubella IgG and rubella IgM. Through the testing of rubella antibodies along with the patient's clinical symptoms, many cases can be diagnosed. If rubella is definitively diagnosed, it generally requires appropriate isolation. Patients with mild conditions usually do not need hospitalization and can isolate at home. The main treatment is symptomatic management; generally, no medication is needed if there are no obvious symptoms, and complete recovery can be expected in about two weeks. If there are symptoms like fever and pain, medications such as antipyretic analgesics and pain relievers can be used for treatment and management, and a real-time assessment should be made based on the actual situation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
41sec home-news-image

Does rubella virus require treatment?

Rubella virus generally does not have specific antiviral drugs, and treatment is mainly symptomatic. Most cases of rubella are relatively mild and many do not require treatment; full recovery usually occurs within about two weeks. For those presenting with noticeable fever and joint pain, symptomatic treatment can be provided, such as choosing some antipyretics or pain relievers. Generally, patients do not need hospital treatment. After recovery from the illness, relapse generally does not occur and one may acquire some immunity. Most patients do not have any sequelae, but pregnant women may face the risk of miscarriage or fetal malformation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
44sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
52sec home-news-image

What does it mean if rubella virus IgG antibodies are high before pregnancy?

Before pregnancy, it is generally necessary to undergo eugenic prenatal tests, and the rubella virus test is one of them. If the test shows that rubella virus IgG antibodies are elevated, this indicates that the patient has previously been infected with the virus or has been vaccinated against the rubella virus, and antibodies have been produced in the body, providing immunity to the virus. Therefore, when a rubella virus IgG is detected, the patient does not need to be particularly worried, as this result does not affect a normal pregnancy. Regardless of whether or not one has been vaccinated against rubella, it is advisable to avoid contact with children infected with rubella during early pregnancy to prevent contracting the rubella virus, which can affect the growth and development of the fetus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
41sec home-news-image

What should you eat to recover quickly from rubella?

Rubella is a self-limiting disease, and generally, patients do not require treatment and can recover in about two weeks. However, if symptoms are significant and include fever and joint pain, it may be appropriate to consider using some antipyretic and pain-relief medications. Most patients can fully recover in about two weeks without needing hospital treatment, but appropriate isolation measures should be taken. In terms of diet, it is advisable to consume light, easily digestible food and avoid overly spicy and irritating foods. Generally, rest is recommended, and if appetite is poor, it is better to eat small, frequent meals and avoid fatigue.