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Rubella encephalitis.

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
 
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Rubella is an acute viral disease characterized by short-term fever, spotted or maculopapular rash and enlarged cervical lymph nodes.

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Causes of rubella encephalitis

The causative agent of rubella encephalitis is an RNA-containing virus of the Togaviridae family.

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Symptoms of rubella encephalitis

On the first day of the disease, a roseolous or roseolous-papular rash appears on an unchanged background of the skin, mainly on the extensor surfaces of the limbs around the joints. After 2-3 days, the rash disappears without a trace. Characteristic are a moderate increase in body temperature, mild catarrhal phenomena, spotted hyperemia of the soft palate, enlarged and moderately painful cervical, parotid and occipital lymph nodes. On the 4th-7th day of the disease, a complication in the form of serous meningitis or encephalitis with a relatively favorable course may develop. Sometimes rubella panencephalitis progresses with an increase in neurological symptoms in the form of ataxia, seizures, depression of consciousness.

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Diagnosis of encephalitis in rubella

The virus is isolated using the classical virological method - nasal mucus seeding on embryonic tissues. Anti-rubella antibodies are detected and their titer increases by 4 times or more in complement fixation and neutralization reactions.

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Treatment of encephalitis in rubella

There is no specific therapy; pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment is carried out similarly to other viral encephalitis.

Forecast

In relatively mild cases of rubella encephalitis and rapid adequate intensive therapy of severe forms, the prognosis is favorable, with full recovery. Mortality is up to 10-20%. Residual effects occur in a third of cases. In subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, the outcome is always fatal.

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