Can you get pregnant if you test positive for rubella virus?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on January 24, 2025
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A positive rubella virus test requires attention as to which specific indicator is positive. If the IgM is positive, then it is certain that pregnancy should be avoided. If the IgM is negative and the IgG is positive, it indicates past infection with rubella virus. There is currently no rubella virus infection in the body, and the presence of rubella virus IgG offers protective effects, preventing the virus from infecting again. Thus, under this circumstance, pregnancy can proceed normally. Rubella is a self-limiting disease, and during an infection, pregnancy should not occur because the rubella virus can pass through the placental barrier into the fetus, potentially causing restrictions in fetal growth and development.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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How is rubella virus caused?

Rubella is an acute infectious disease primarily caused by the rubella virus, which can lead to a series of symptoms following infection. It can be transmitted from mother to child, as the rubella virus can pass to the fetus through the placenta. Additionally, it can be transmitted through airborne respiratory droplets commonly found in the environment. Patients with rubella have a high concentration of the virus in their saliva. When they talk, cough, or sneeze, virus-laden droplets are produced. When ordinary people inhale these droplets, they may contract the disease. Rubella is self-limiting, and most cases are mild and can fully recover on their own.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can you breastfeed with postpartum rubella?

When a mother develops rubella postpartum, she should not breastfeed her baby. This is because the rubella virus can be directly transmitted to the baby, affecting the baby's growth and development. Rubella virus is dangerous as it comes from respiratory infectious diseases. The patient is the only source of infection, mainly spreading through droplets, contact transmission, and mother-to-child transmission. Moreover, the incidence of rubella virus infection is very high in children aged five to six months, and the younger the age, the lower the body's resistance and the higher the incidence rate. Therefore, it is best for mothers to temporarily stop breastfeeding during the breastfeeding period.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What medicine is used to treat rubella virus?

Regarding the treatment of rubella, it mainly involves symptomatic treatment, and there are no specific antiviral drugs for treatment. Rubella is a self-limiting disease, most of which can fully recover without recurrence, and generally does not leave sequelae. After infection, a certain level of immunity is acquired, and if re-infected, the symptoms are usually milder or even asymptomatic. Generally, patients can recover in about two weeks. If there are obvious symptoms of fever and joint pain, symptomatic treatment can be carried out, such as using some antipyretics and pain relievers.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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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.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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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.