Can you breastfeed with postpartum rubella?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on February 02, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
34sec home-news-image

Is the rubella virus easily contagious?

Rubella virus is relatively easy to contract. It can be transmitted through airborne droplets or through contact between people, so it's best to isolate oneself during an infection. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment for rubella; management typically involves symptomatic treatment. Many patients with mild conditions can recover completely in about two weeks without treatment. Generally, the infection does not recur, and one usually gains immunity, preventing re-infection. After recovering from rubella, there are generally no significant sequelae.

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 Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
49sec home-news-image

How to treat rubella virus positive?

If the test for rubella virus is positive, there are no specific antiviral drugs available. Rubella is a self-limiting disease; most patients can fully recover on their own and it usually does not recur. Generally, most people can fully recover in about two weeks. In terms of treatment and management, it primarily involves addressing any complications. For example, antipyretic and analgesic medications can be used for significant fever. Any other discomfort needs symptomatic treatment. Generally, treatment should be based on the actual condition of the patient. Most patients can fully recover and usually do not need hospital treatment, but it is necessary to ensure proper isolation since the rubella virus can be transmitted to others through the air, droplets, or respiratory routes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
42sec home-news-image

Rubella virus belongs to the Togaviridae family.

Infections with the rubella virus require treatment in infectious disease departments, as it is a contagious disease caused by the rubella virus, characterized as an acute, rash-causing infectious disease. Typical clinical symptoms include fever, a body-wide rash, and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears, although most cases are relatively mild and short in duration. Both children and adults can contract the disease, which can easily lead to outbreaks; school-aged children between five and nine years old are at high risk. There are no specific drugs for the treatment of rubella; generally, most people recover on their own within about two weeks.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
49sec home-news-image

Rubella Virus Infection Treatment Methods

Rubella is actually an acute self-limiting disease. There are no specific antiviral drugs after infection with the rubella virus; treatment is primarily symptomatic. Most cases of rubella recover completely within about two weeks. If there is significant fever or severe joint pain, symptomatic treatment can be administered, such as using antipyretics and pain relievers. Generally, hospitalization is not necessary for patients. Rubella is a self-limiting disease and most can recover completely. Generally, it does not recur. After infection, a certain degree of immunity is acquired, but it can still be re-infected in the future. However, symptoms in subsequent infections are usually mild, and many have no symptoms at all.