Difference Between German Measles and Measles

Differences German Measles Measles

Different from measles, but with comparable symptoms (such as a red rash), rubella (German measles) is a contagious viral infection. To contrast, measles (rubeola) is caused by one virus whereas rubella (German Measles) is caused by another (measles).

There is a common RNA virus that is responsible for both measles and German measles. These diseases have similar symptoms and are transmitted by infected people's coughs and sneezes. The rashes, however, are distinct between the two disorders. The MMR vaccination can protect against both diseases.

What is German Measles?

German measles, also known as rubella, is caused by the rubella virus, which belongs to the Togaviridae family. Rubella is also a contagious disease that spreads through droplets from the nose, mouth, and throat of an infected person. The symptoms of rubella are similar to those of measles, but milder. They include a low-grade fever, headache, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Rubella can also be prevented by vaccination, and the MMR vaccine is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old.

Congenital rubella syndrome causes disruption in the development and growth of the baby in the womb and also can result in heart abnormalities, brain damage and deafness. It is therefore very important to get German measles treated in case you are pregnant and you suspect it. Apart from rash, other symptoms that people with German measles show include swollen lymph nodes and fever. The infection spreads through droplets from the infected person’s cough or sneeze.

This means that you can get Rubella if you touch your eyes, mouth, or nose, after touching any surface that has droplets from a person who is infected with Rubella. Rubella is also spread by sharing drinks and food with someone who has it.

Rubella is a mild infection and vanishes within 1 week, even if it is not treated. However, it sometimes become a serious medical condition in pregnant women. German measles is typically a mild infection that goes away within one week.

What is Measles?

Measles, also known as rubeola, is caused by the measles virus, which belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family. It is a highly contagious disease that spreads through droplets from the nose, mouth, and throat of an infected person. Measles symptoms usually appear after 10 to 14 days of exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that spreads all over the body. Measles can be prevented by vaccination, and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old.

You have ninety percent of getting it if you have not taken the vaccine and are in a closed room with the affected person. Measles is really dangerous and as in severe cases, it causes an infection of brain (encephalitis), severe diarrhoea, ear infection, severe infection of respiratory system knows as pneumonia and even dehydration.

Differences: German Measles and Measles

One of the main differences between measles and German measles is their incubation period. Measles has a longer incubation period than rubella, which means that symptoms appear later after exposure. Measles symptoms usually appear after 10 to 14 days, while rubella symptoms appear after 14 to 21 days. Another difference is the severity of the symptoms. Measles symptoms are more severe than rubella symptoms and can lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. Rubella, on the other hand, rarely leads to complications.

The following table highlights the major differences between German Measles and Measles −

Characteristics	German Measles	Measles
Description	Rubella (German Measles) is a viral illness that causes joint pain and a skin rash. It mostly affects small children and is a mild disease. However, if it occurs during pregnancy, it can become fatal for an unborn baby, such as blindness, brain damage, deafness, and heart defects.	Rubeola (measles), also called 10-day measles is a viral infection that is really serious for small Kids but is easily preventable by a vaccine. It is a viral illness that causes a viral exanthem. Viral exanthem is another term for a skin eruption or a rash. Measles has a distinct rash that serves useful to aid in the diagnosis. The infection grows in the cells lining the lungs and the throat. It is highly contagious and some of the symptoms include fever, runny nose, red eyes, cough, and a spreading skin.
Rashes	Rashes in Rubella are spots that fade very fast. The rubella virus is the main cause for “German measles,” also known as “Three- day measles.” This is basically a milder disease than red measles.	Rashes in Rubeola are blotches with spots. The rubeola virus causes “red measles,” also termed as “hard measles” or just “measles.”
Duration of symptoms	Symptoms can last up to 5 days	Symptoms can last up to 10 days
Period of incubation	Symptoms can last up to five days	Symptoms can last up to 10 days
Symptoms	Enlarged and tender neck lymph nodes Prolonged Headache Eye redness Ear ache Aching joints A stuffy or runny nose Nerve inflammation Mild fever, usually under 102°F Red rashes	Pain in the muscles Fever Malaise Fatigue, or loss of appetite Runny nose or sneezing Diarrhoea Dry cough Pink eye Headache Sensitivity to light Koplik’s spots (tiny white spots with bluish-white centers) Sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes
Complications	Post infectious thrombocytopenia Myocarditis Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) (a rapid-onset muscle weakness) Orchitis Neuritis Purpura	Diarrhoea Encephalitis (swelling of the brain) Bronchitis Bacteraemia, Cellulitis and Toxic shock syndrome Laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box) Pregnancy problems (high maternal morbidity, foetal wastage, still-births, and congenital malformations) Ear infection Pneumonia Croup (inflammation of the airway)
Prodromal stage	Prodromal stage is absent in German Measles (Rubella)	Prodromal stage is present in Measles (Rubeola)
Swelling in Lymph nodes	In Rubella, lymph nodes are always swollen	In measles, lymph nodes are not always swollen

Conclusion

In conclusion, measles and German measles are two different infectious diseases that are caused by different viruses. Although they share similar symptoms, they differ in terms of their causes, transmission, and complications.

Measles is a more severe disease than rubella and can lead to serious complications, while rubella is usually mild and rarely leads to complications. Vaccination is the best way to prevent both diseases, and the MMR vaccine is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old.

Vineet Nanda

Updated on: 06-Apr-2023

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