Question

Compare and contrast measles, mumps, and rubella. Include a description of the pathogen, major symptoms encountered, and any potential consequences of these infections. Why is it important that women be vaccinated against rubella before puberty? (Section 29.6)

Short answer

Measles, mumps, and rubella are all viral diseases with various symptoms and serious potential complications. Women must be vaccinated against rubella to prevent congenital rubella syndrome in newborns.

Step-by-step solution

- Identify the Pathogen for Each Disease

Measles, mumps, and rubella are all caused by viruses. The measles virus is a member of the paramyxovirus family, specifically the genus Morbillivirus. The mumps virus also belongs to the paramyxovirus family but is classified under the Rubulavirus genus. Rubella, on the other hand, is caused by a virus in the Togaviridae family, specifically the genus Rubivirus.

- Describe Major Symptoms

Measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, and a characteristic red rash that usually starts on the face and spreads downward. Mumps is characterized by swollen and painful salivary glands, fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Rubella symptoms often include a mild fever, rash that starts on the face and spreads, and swollen lymph nodes.

- Discuss Potential Consequences

Measles can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Mumps can cause complications like orchitis, oophoritis, mastitis, encephalitis, and meningitis. Rubella can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) if a woman gets infected during pregnancy, causing severe birth defects such as deafness, heart defects, and developmental delays.

- Importance of Rubella Vaccination

Vaccination against rubella is crucial for women before puberty to prevent the risk of infection during pregnancy, which can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the unborn child. This syndrome can cause serious and irreversible birth defects.

Key concepts

viral pathogens

Measles, mumps, and rubella are all infections caused by viral pathogens. These viruses belong to different families but share some characteristics common to viruses. The **measles virus** is part of the paramyxovirus family, specifically the **Morbillivirus** genus. The **mumps virus** also belongs to the paramyxovirus family but is categorized under the **Rubulavirus** genus. On the other hand, **rubella** is caused by the rubella virus, which falls under the Togaviridae family, specifically the **Rubivirus** genus. These pathogens are highly contagious and spread primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

major symptoms

Each of these viral infections presents with unique symptoms. **Measles symptoms** include a high fever, runny nose, cough, inflamed eyes, and a distinctive red rash that usually starts on the face and moves downward. This rash is often a key indicator of the disease.
**Mumps** commonly presents with swollen and painful salivary glands, which can cause noticeable puffiness in the cheeks and jaw area. In addition to this, fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue are typical symptoms.
**Rubella symptoms** tend to be milder. They include a low-grade fever, a rash starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body, and swollen lymph nodes. Despite the mildness of rubella symptoms compared to measles or mumps, it can cause severe complications during pregnancy.

complications of infections

While the acute symptoms of measles, mumps, and rubella can be quite burdensome, the complications of these infections can be severe and long-lasting.
**Measles** can lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, an infection of the lungs; encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain; and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system.
**Mumps** complications include orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries), mastitis (inflammation of the breast tissue), encephalitis, and meningitis (inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord).
**Rubella** poses a significant risk if contracted during pregnancy. It can lead to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the unborn child, causing severe birth defects such as deafness, heart defects, and developmental delays.

rubella vaccination importance

Vaccination against rubella is especially crucial for women before reaching puberty. This is because contracting rubella during pregnancy can have dire consequences for the unborn child. The most serious risk is **congenital rubella syndrome (CRS)**, which can result in severe and sometimes irreversible birth defects. Among these are deafness, heart defects, and developmental delays. By ensuring vaccination before puberty, women can protect themselves from rubella during their childbearing years, thus preventing the risk of CRS. The **rubella vaccine** is generally administered as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, which is vital in controlling the spread and impact of these viral infections.