Angina with rubella

Rubella at the initial stages of the disease resembles scarlet fever and measles, and in mild forms of these diseases a false diagnosis is possible, secondly, with rubella, along with pathological changes in the mucous membranes of the pharynx and throat, other complications related to the ENT organs may arise. Even in the first half of the 20th century, many authors noted that when infected with rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy, intrauterine infection of the fetus with a fatal outcome and miscarriage or the occurrence of various embryopathies (malformations of the brain, organs of vision and hearing, heart, bones, etc.) can occur. Infection of the fetus in later stages of pregnancy can lead to the formation of fetopathies: hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, giant cell hepatitis, bone damage, lungs, etc.

Women who contract rubella during pregnancy, as well as those who have been in contact with someone who has rubella, are strongly advised to terminate the pregnancy due to the high risk of infection of the fetus and the development of various deformities.

Rubella was first mentioned as a specific disease in the mid-16th century. Until the early 17th century, it was part of a single group of diseases along with scarlet fever and measles. It was finally identified as an independent nosological form in 1881 at the International Congress in London.

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Epidemiology of rubella sore throat

The source of the infectious agent is a person sick with rubella or a carrier of the virus. The patient is contagious 7 days before the rash appears and for 4 days after it appears. The virus is transmitted mainly by airborne droplets, but can be transmitted through household items contaminated with the patient's secretions. Transplacental transmission of the infection is also possible. If infected at the end of pregnancy, a child may be born sick with rubella, who excretes viruses for 1/2-1 year. Mostly children from 1 to 10 years old are ill. The disease leaves a strong immunity.

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Cause of sore throat in rubella

Rubella is caused by a filterable RNA-containing virus from the togavirus family, discovered by Japanese scientists Y. Hiro and S. Tasaka in 1938. The pathogen is unstable in the external environment and quickly dies under the influence of UV rays.

Symptoms of sore throat with rubella

The incubation period is 11 to 24 days, more often 16-21 days. The short-term prodromal period is manifested by a mild runny nose, catarrhal phenomena in the pharynx and larynx, cough, often remains unnoticed or passes "under the flag" of a common cold. However, the appearance of typical symptoms, manifested by noticeable swelling and mild soreness of the occipital, posterior cervical and some other groups of peripheral lymph nodes against the background of the above-mentioned catarrhal phenomena (in the absence of other reasons for this) with certainty, which has no exceptions, indicates rubella. The rash appears on the face, neck, spreading over the course of several hours throughout the body, it is most pronounced on the extensor surfaces of the limbs, on the back and buttocks, sometimes accompanied by mild itching. The rash elements appear as pale pink round or oval spots protruding above the skin level, the size of which varies from a pinhead to a lentil. The rash disappears in 2-3 days, leaving no pigmentation. Simultaneously with the rash on the skin, an enanthem appears on the mucous membranes of the pharynx in the form of small pale pink spots. Catarrhal phenomena in the pharynx do not intensify and do not cause any significant discomfort. Simultaneously with the rash, the body temperature rises to 38 ° C, but can remain normal throughout the entire period of the disease. The well-being of the sick child, as a rule, is not impaired. Adults tolerate rubella more severely (body temperature above 38 ° C, severe headache, myalgia of the neck muscles, pronounced catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and conjunctiva of the eyes). During the incubation period, leukocytosis and neutrophilia are detected in the blood; during the rash stage, leukopenia, lymphocytosis and a significant number of plasma cells are detected.

Complications of sore throat with rubella

Complications such as otitis, bronchopneumonia, nephritis, polyneuritis are extremely rare. Various domestic and foreign authors have described rubella encephalitis and encephalomyelitis, which in some cases ended fatally. By the end of the 50s of the 20th century, according to D.S. Futer, data on only 89 such cases with a fatal outcome were published.

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Diagnosis of sore throat in rubella

Rubella is most often confused with measles, from which it differs in the weak expression of catarrh of the upper respiratory tract and fever, the absence of Filatov spots and the staging of the rash, a paler color and a spotty nature of the rash, which has a weak tendency to merge. The rash with rubella does not peel and does not leave pigmentation. Rubella is characterized by swelling of the occipital and posterior cervical lymph nodes. Epidemiological history is of certain importance for the correct diagnosis. Laboratory diagnostic methods include serological studies (hemagglutination reaction, complement fixation, neutralization), which reveal an increase in the content of antibodies during the disease; sometimes direct isolation of the virus in tissue culture. Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood serve as the material for the study.

Differential diagnosis is carried out primarily with measles and scarlet fever.

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Treatment of sore throat with rubella

Treatment of sore throat due to rubella is carried out in most cases at home: bed rest, vitamins, desensitizing agents.

Prognosis and prevention of sore throat with rubella

The prognosis is favorable. In case of intrauterine rubella and development of encephalitis - serious.

Prevention consists of early detection of patients and their isolation for 4 days from the onset of the disease. Children who have been in contact with a rubella patient are not subject to isolation. Pregnant women should avoid contact with rubella patients.