What is the Difference Between Measles and Rubella?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Measles and rubella are both contagious viral infections, but they are caused by different viruses and have distinct characteristics:
Measles:
- Caused by a virus that specifically infects the respiratory system.
- More severe and can be life-threatening.
- Symptoms include cold-like symptoms (runny nose, inflamed red eyes, cough, fever), followed by a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the body.
- Can result in serious complications, especially in those with weak immune systems.
Rubella:
- Caused by a virus that invades the lymph nodes, eyes, and skin.
- Generally milder, but caution is needed in pregnant women.
- Symptoms include a mild fever and rash in infants and children.
- Can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in an unborn baby if a woman is infected during pregnancy.
Both diseases can be prevented with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is safe and highly effective. The MMR vaccine is given in two doses to children at the recommended ages: 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Measles and Rubella? Comparative Table: Measles vs Rubella
Comparative Table: Measles vs Rubella
Here is a table highlighting the differences between measles and rubella:
Feature | Measles | Rubella |
---|---|---|
Symptom Duration | Up to 10 days | Up to 5 days |
Prodromal Stage | Present | Absent |
Incubation Period | 1 to 2 weeks | 2 to 3 weeks |
Contagiousness | Highly contagious | Not as contagious as measles |
Also Known As | Rubeola | German measles |
Virus Family | Paramyxoviridae | Togaviridae |
Rash Characteristics | Red, flat rashes | Fine pink rashes, less intense |
Risk in Pregnancy | Can cause complications | Generally mild, but can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy |
Vaccination | MMR vaccine | MMR vaccine |
Both measles and rubella are viral diseases caused by single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to different families. They share some common symptoms, such as rashes, but have distinct characteristics as well. The MMR vaccine is used for the prevention of both diseases.
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- Scarlet Fever vs Rheumatic Fever
- Monkeypox vs Chickenpox
- Chickenpox vs Smallpox
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- Cowpox vs Chickenpox
- Typhoid vs Tuberculosis
- Typhus vs Typhoid
- Malaria vs Yellow Fever
- Mumps vs Glandular Fever
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- Meningitis vs Meningocephalitis