Rubella (German measles)

1990 Case Definition

Clinical case definition

An illness with all of the following characteristics:

• Acute onset of generalized maculopapular rash

• Temperature greater than 37.2 C ( greater than 99 F), if measured

• Arthralgia/arthritis, or lymphadenopathy, or conjunctivitis

Cases meeting the measles case definition are excluded. Also excluded are cases with serology compatible with recent measles virus infection.

Laboratory criteria for diagnosis

• Isolation of rubella virus, or
• Significant rise in rubella antibody level by any standard serologic assay, or
• Positive serologic test for rubella IgM antibody

Case classification

Suspect: any generalized rash illness of acute onset

Probable: a case that meets the clinical case definition, has no or noncontributory serologic or virologic testing, and is not epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case

Confirmed: a case that is laboratory confirmed or that meets the clinical case definition and is epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case

See also:

• 2009 Case Definition
• 2007 Case Definition
• 1996 Case Definition

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