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Difference Between Measles and Rubella mainly lies in the contagion, severity, prodromal stage, and some of the symptoms. Both Measles and Rubella are caused by Retroviruses that infect human beings of all age groups. Although both diseases share some of the common symptoms they differ in multiple aspects, measles is caused by a virus called Paramyxovirus, and Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus. Measles is way more severe than Rubella and tends to cause more harm to humans. Both of the viruses spread through air-borne respiratory droplets secreted by affected persons. MMR vaccine is used against both diseases.
Key Terms: Measles, Rubella, DNA, Retrovirus, RNA, Incubation, Viral Disease, Cough, Symptoms of Measles, Symptoms of Rubella
Retrovirus: A Brief Overview
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Retrovirus is a virus that uses RNA as its genetic material. The term ‘retrovirus’ refers to its backward behaviour which drastically differs from the original way we think about Genetics, that the DNA makes the RNA and the RNA makes the proteins. So, retroviruses have an RNA genome. When they get into the cells they reverse-transcribe their RNA into DNA. This reverse-transcribed DNA then gets inserted with the host cell DNA and when the cell divides the DNA gets multiplied too and begins to express their RNA as well resulting in the formation of viral proteins and packaging materials. Another of those RNAs go into the packaging materials and leave the cell as the virus particle to infect other nearby cells. Thus, the infection spreads.
Retrovirus
The most famous example of retrovirus may be the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV that causes AIDS. However, retroviruses like Measles and Rubella are contagious and cause severe infections in human beings.
What is Measles?
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Measles is a highly contagious viral illness caused by an RNA virus called Paramyxovirus. The virus replicates in the nose and throat of an infected person. Measles spreads through infected droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes in the open air. As the infection rate is quite high about 90% of the susceptible people will be infected and show symptoms. The incubation period of the disease is about 1-2 weeks but sometimes symptoms may last for 10 days or so. It is most infectious during its prodromal period (almost 8 days) when it is exhibiting its early symptoms.
Symptoms of Measles
The symptoms of the infection of measles include the following:
- High fever, the temperature may rise to 40°c or 104°F in severe cases.
- Continuous cough
- Runny nose or Coryza
- Infection of the outer membrane of the eyes, also known as Conjunctivitis, results in watery and red eyes. The eyes become sensitive to light, also known as photophobia.
- A maculopapular rash occurs which is a flat red area with small swollen bumps. It may spread all over the body in severe cases.
- Rash also can be present on the membranes that produce mucus. It is also known as Enanthem.
- Presence of Koplik spots around the inside lines of the mouth. It usually occurs on the fifth day of the infection.
- High fatigue, malaise and loss of appetite.
- Measles can also cause damage to the brain in some people and even blindness. In extreme cases, it may lead to death if coupled with pneumonia or other severe diseases.
- Measles-Mumps- Rubella or MMR vaccine is used to develop an immune response against Measles.
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| Relevant Concepts | |
|---|---|
| Central Dogma | Immunity |
| Retrovirus | Gene Flow |
What is Rubella?
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Rubella is another contagious RNA virus which is known for its distinctive red rashes. It is also known as three-day measles or German measles. While the infection is mild in the case of adults, it creates serious trouble for unborn babies if the mother gets infected during her pregnancy.
Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus which spreads through the air. It also may spread by direct contact with an infected person’s respiratory secretion such as mucus. Although rubella and measles share some of the characteristic symptom’s rubella is not as severe as measles. A person who has been infected by Rubella remains contagious for 1 or 2 weeks before the rash develops on the body. So, the infectious person can spread the virus even before (s)he realizes that s(he) has it.
Symptoms of Rubella
Symptoms of Rubella generally appear after 2-3 weeks of inoculation. Most of the time symptoms are very difficult to notice in children. The symptoms of Rubella infection are as follows:
- Mild fever of 102°C or 38.8°F.
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Headache
- Red or inflamed eyes
- Enlarged lymph nodes at the base of the skull, behind the ears and back of the neck.
- Pinkish rash that spreads from the face to trunk and other parts of the body before disappearing in the same order.
- Joint aches, especially in the case of young women.
- However, if a pregnant woman contracts Rubella the consequences can be severe for the unborn baby who might develop congenital rubella syndrome within 12 weeks of pregnancy. The syndrome includes effects like growth delays, cataracts, deafness, heart defects, intellectual disabilities etc.
Rubella Vaccination
Measles-Mumps-Rubella or MMR vaccine is also used to develop an immune response against Measles.
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| Related Topics | |
|---|---|
| Biofortification | Microbiology |
| Genome and Genomics | DNA Fingerprinting |
Difference between Measles and Rubella
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Although both Measles and Rubella are caused by RNA viruses and share some of their infection symptoms, there are some major differences between Measles and Rubella. Those differences are given below in a tabulated format-
| Measles | Rubella |
|---|---|
| Measles is much more contagious and severe than Rubella. | Rubella is way less contagious and dangerous than Measles. |
| There is an about 8-day-long prodromal stage present in the case of Measles. | In Rubella, there is no such prodromal stage present. |
| The length of the incubation period here is 1-2 weeks. | Here, the length of the incubation period is 2-3 weeks. |
| The symptoms of Measles may last for 10 days or more. | In the case of Rubella, the symptoms generally stay for 5 days or so. |
| Here, the swollen nodes are not observed during infection. | Here, swollen, enlarged nodes are observed at the base of the skull, behind the ears, and back of the neck. |
| The presence of Koplik spots can be observed here. | The presence of Forschheimer spots is observed in the case of Rubella infection. |
| Photophobia may occur in the case of Measles. | Photophobia does not occur here. |
| A high fever of 40°C can be observed here. | Here, the fever is not that high, usually 38.8°C. |
| In Measles, the rash consists of blotches and may last for a while. | In the case of Rubella infection, the rash fades quite fast. |
Things to Remember
- Measles and Rubella are caused by two different retroviruses called Paramyxovirus and Rubella virus respectively.
- Both diseases are airborne and spread through the respiratory droplets produced by the infected people.
- Measles is generally more severe than Rubella infection.
- Although they are caused by two different viruses Measles and Rubella infections share some of the symptoms.
- Rash and other symptoms generally last long in Measles than in Rubella.
- Though Measles processes a prodromal phase Rubella does not possess any such phase.
- The fever caused by Rubella is low while a high fever can be observed in Measles. The eyes may get sensitive in the case of Measles while no such thing is observed in Rubella infections.
- MMR vaccine- a person can be vaccinated against both diseases with the MMR vaccine.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is Measles? How does it spread? (2 Marks)
Ans. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by a retrovirus called Paramyxovirus.
Measles is spread through respiratory droplets excreted by the infected persons.
Ques. What is Rubella? (2 Marks)
Ans. Measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a retrovirus called Rubella virus.
It generally spreads through respiratory droplets excreted by infected persons.
Ques. State any three differences between Measles and Rubella. (3 Marks)
Ans. although Measles and Rubella share some of the symptoms there are some major differences between them-
- Measles is caused by a virus named Paramyxovirus while Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus.
- There is a prodromal stage in the case of infection of Measles while there is no such prodromal stage in Rubella infections.
- Swollen nodes are usually not observed in the Measles infection while swollen, enlarged nodes are observed in Rubella infection.
Ques: What vaccines are used against Measles and Rubella? (1 Mark)
Ans. MMR vaccine or Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine is used against both Measles and Rubella.
Ques: What are retroviruses? (2 Marks)
Ans. A Retrovirus is a virus that uses RNA as its genetic material. When they get into the cells they reverse-transcribe their RNA into DNA.
Ques. Are Measles and Rubella the same disease? (2 Marks)
Ans. No, Measles and Rubella are not the same diseases although they share some common symptoms. Measles is more severe than Rubella and they are caused by two different viruses.
Ques. State any three symptoms of Measles infections? (3 Marks)
Ans. Three symptoms of Measles infection are-
- High fever, the temperature may rise to 40°c or 104°F in severe cases.
- The maculopapular rash occurs which is a flat red area with small swollen bumps.
- Presence Koplik spots around the inside lines of the mouth
Ques. State any two symptoms of Rubella infections? (3 Marks)
Ans. Three symptoms of Rubella infection are-
- Mild fever of 102°C or 38.8°F.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Pinkish rash that spreads from the face to the trunk and other parts of the body.
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