It is believed that antibodies to rubella already appear in childhood. To the rubella virus, IgG is produced if you get sick with it or after vaccination. But cases of illness in a child and even adults are not uncommon, who most often endure the disease more difficult and with consequences.
A bit of history
For a very long time, rubella was thought to be a mild form of measles. In the 18th century, however, it was proved that the virus causes a separate disease. Over time, Dr. Gregg, an ophthalmologist, traced the relationship between fetal developmental disorders as a result of an illness in a pregnant woman.
It was found that the virus is quite unstable to the manifestations of the external environment. It dies under the influence of ultraviolet rays, disinfectants, drying. But it does not react to temperature changes and remains active.
Therefore, during the illness of someone from the family, it is necessary to carefully clean the room with disinfectants. It is also important to open the curtains for the penetration of sunlight intoroom.
How they get infected
It has been proven that only a sick person can spread the virus. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. Through the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, it enters the bloodstream.
When the virus enters the lymphatic system, it begins its active development. After a week, it is already spreading in numerous quantities throughout the body.
At this time, the incubation period ends and antibodies to the rubella virus begin to be produced. For rubella, IgG begins to accumulate already in the course of the disease.
Most often, the active spread of the virus occurs in places with a large crowd of people. Thus, people who do not have immunity will definitely get infected.
Symptomatics
The incubation period lasts an average of up to 21 days and at least a week. A person can infect another already a week before the first signs and the same amount after them.
There are three types of rubella:
- typical;
- atypical;
- inapparant.
In the first variant, there are no symptoms at all during the incubation period. Changes in well-being can be observed already at the same time as the rash appears.
Thus, the infection of others occurs in large numbers. This is due to the fact that the patient does not know that he is ill.
The acute period can last from two hours to several days. It is characterized by fever, increasedlymph nodes, weakness and lethargy.
You may experience a runny nose, watery eyes and a slight cough. Then the disease passes into another phase, and a rash appears. It does not appear on the feet and hands.
Three days later, the spots on the body turn pale and gradually disappear. The atypical form is characterized by mild manifestations of the disease, while the inapparat form does not give any symptoms at all. It can only be determined by antibodies to the rubella virus. Rubella IgG indicates that a person is sick or has recently had the virus.
In babies under one year old, the disease rarely occurs - they are protected by their mother's antibodies. But artificial children can easily become infected. In this case, rubella will be quite difficult, with possible convulsions and other disorders of the central nervous system.
Determination of Igg antibodies to rubella virus
These are special cells that protect a person from this disease throughout life. Antibodies can be produced after vaccination or after an illness. In the right amount, they will be able to completely protect against the disease. Even if the virus enters the body, antibodies instantly recognize it and destroy it.
It is believed that blood levels of more than 10 units mean the development of good immunity. Thus, a person is unlikely to get sick with rubella. If after a while the titers grow even more, then the disease is considered to be in an acute form.
This analysis is useful for children, expectant mothers and teenagers. After passing itit will be possible to know with certainty whether it is worth fearing the disease. It is also necessary to conduct such a diagnosis for patients with severe chronic diseases, because it is very dangerous for them to endure such diseases, because they will definitely have to wait for any complications after them.
How to properly analyze and decode it
The most basic rule before taking tests is to refuse food 8 hours before the diagnosis. Also, the day before the blood collection, do not eat fatty foods and do not drink alcohol. Smoking is prohibited 1-2 hours before the diagnosis, otherwise the result may be false positive.
You can not go for blood sampling after undergoing fluorography or x-rays. And it is also necessary to refrain from taking the analysis after the ultrasound examination. Only a little boiled water is allowed. Blood is taken from a vein.
The results are usually ready in a few days. More than 10 rubella antibody units are considered good indicators. IgG indicates good immunity.
If the numbers are less than 10, then the patient has poorly developed antibodies or none at all. In this case, it is necessary to vaccinate with an imported vaccine (measles, rubella, mumps). This complex drug will protect the body from three infectious diseases at once.
Types of antibodies
If during the analysis the IgM class is detected in the blood, it means that the patient has just had this disease. If a high level of IgG antibodies to rubella virus is detected,it means that the patient has been ill for a long time or immunity was developed after vaccination.
It is especially important to carry out this type of analysis for pregnant women. Rubella is very dangerous for the development of the fetus in utero. Children are then often born with a variety of mutations and congenital malformations of internal organs.
Therefore, women who plan to become mothers should be tested in advance and consult a doctor with the results so that he can detect positive antibodies to the IgG rubella virus and decide whether to vaccinate. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to your he alth in advance, and not during pregnancy.
Avidity of IgG antibodies to rubella virus
Reference result is considered when the titers of IgG and IgM antibodies are opposite. That is, the first must be positive, and the second must be negative. In this case, the patient is completely protected from this disease.
A negative result means the patient is not immune to the disease. He has not had rubella before and is not sick now. In this case, he will be advised to vaccinate.
A positive result is given when IgM type antibodies are detected. This means that the person has recently had this disease. And also rubella may be at this moment in the final stage.
Vaccination
The only way to protect yourself from the disease is an imported vaccine against measles, rubella, mumps. Only in this case it is possible to achieve the development of antibodies without transferring the disease itself.
Poschedule vaccination occurs at 1 year. The next revaccination follows at 6 years of age. But adults, especially women, can get vaccinated at any time.
How is the measles, rubella, mumps vaccine tolerated? Many mothers note that children practically do not react to it. But there are isolated cases when a child has a fever and even a rash.
But doctors say that in this form the disease is not contagious and the patient is completely safe for others. How is the measles, rubella, mumps vaccine tolerated by older children?
There is usually no reaction to revaccination at all. But there are also episodes with the course of an erased form of rubella. Such children also cannot infect others.
It is very important to be vaccinated with an imported vaccine against measles, rubella, mumps on schedule. Rubella can give the most difficult consequences, which sometimes lead to disability. For example, brain damage almost never disappears without a trace.
For pregnant women, this infection is very dangerous. Many cases have been recorded when children born after the mother's illness had serious he alth pathologies. And some also have visible mutations on the body.
Such children live the life of disabled people, and neither they nor their mothers are happy about it.
