Measles vs. Rubella
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Measles and Rubella is that measles is a highly contagious and infectious disease caused by the measles virus, whereas rubella is a mildly infectious disease caused by the rubella virus.

Difference Between Measles and Rubella
Measles vs. Rubella
Measles is a highly contagious disease spread by the measles virus, whereas Rubella is a mildly infectious disease caused by the rubella virus.
Measles vs. Rubella
Measles is also known as “Rubeola,” whereas Rubella is also known as “German measles” or “three-day measles.”
Measles vs. Rubella
Measles include symptoms like a blocked or runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, swollen eyelids, a high fever which may reach about 40C ( 104F ), red eyes that may be sensitive to light and a general lack of energy, on the other hand, the symptoms of Rubella are often so mild that it is difficult to notice them. But Rubella has symptoms like a red or pink rash that begins from the face, and then they spread downward to the rest of the body, stuffy or runny nose, tender and swollen lymph nodes, the mild fever usually under 102°F, muscle pain, headache, and red or inflamed eyes.
Measles vs. Rubella
Measles virus is the main cause of disease measles. Conversely, Rubella is caused by the rubella virus.
Measles vs. Rubella
Measles have complications like pneumonia, diarrhea, and middle ear infection, on the flip side, in Rubella, the complications may consist of inflammation of nerves, testicular swelling, bleeding problems, and miscarriage.
Measles vs. Rubella
The clinical diagnosis of Measles requires at least one of the given symptoms like coryza, or conjunctivitis, cough, and a history of fever of at least three days. Observation of Koplik's spots also plays an important role in diagnosing Measles. However, laboratory confirmation is strongly suggested, while, the clinical diagnosis of Rubella includes the checking of different types of Rubella antibodies, specifically IgM antibodies and a blood test.
Measles vs. Rubella
Measles does not have a specific antiviral treatment instead the medications are usually applied for treating superinfections, for pain relief and maintaining good hydration with adequate fluids, on the other hand, Rubella does not have a specific treatment, but management is used to responding to symptoms to inhibit the discomfort.
Measlesnoun
Rubeola, an acute highly contagious disease, often of childhood, caused by Measles virus, of genus Morbillivirus, featuring a spreading red skin rash, fever, runny nose, cough and red eyes
Rubellanoun
(pathology) A mild disease caused by the Rubella virus infecting the respiratory tract, and characterised by a rash of pink dots, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Measlesnoun
Any of several other similar diseases, such as German measles.
Rubellanoun
a contagious viral disease that is a milder form of measles lasting three or four days; can be damaging to a fetus during the first trimester
Measlesnoun
A disease of pigs and cattle, caused by larval tapeworms.
Measlesnoun
A disease of trees, in which the leaves are covered in spots.
Measlesnoun
(obsolete) measle
Measlesnoun
(obsolete) Leprosy.
Measlesnoun
an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
Comparison Chart
Measles | Rubella |
Measles is highly contagious and caused by the measles virus. | Rubella is a mildly infectious disease caused by the rubella virus. |
Also Known As | |
Measles is also known as “Rubeola.” | Rubella is also called “three-day measles” or “German measles.” |
Causes | |
Measles virus is the main cause of disease Measles. Measles virus is a negative-sense, single-stranded, and enveloped RNA virus. | Rubella virus causes rubella, which is a togavirus that has a single-stranded RNA genome and is enveloped. |
Complications | |
Measles have complications like pneumonia, diarrhea, and middle ear infection. | In Rubella, the complications may consist of inflammation of nerves, testicular swelling, bleeding problems, and miscarriage. |
Diagnosis | |
The clinical diagnosis of Measles requires at least one of the given symptoms like coryza, or conjunctivitis, cough, and a history of fever of at least three days. Observation of Koplik's spots also plays an important role in diagnosing Measles. However, laboratory confirmation is strongly suggested. | The clinical diagnosis of Rubella includes the checking of different types of Rubella antibodies, specifically IgM antibodies and a blood test. |
Symptoms | |
Measles includes symptoms like a blocked or runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, swollen eyelids, a high fever which may reach about 40C ( 104F ), red eyes that may be sensitive to light and a general lack of energy. | Rubella has symptoms like a red or pink rash that begins from the face, and then they spread downward to rest of the body, stuffy or runny nose, tender, and swollen lymph nodes, the mild fever usually under 102°F, muscle pain, headache, and red or inflamed eyes. |
Treatment | |
Measles does not have a specific antiviral treatment, but the medications are usually applied for treating superinfections, for pain relief and maintaining good hydration with adequate fluids. | Rubella does not have a specific treatment, but management is used to responding to symptoms to inhibit the discomfort. |
Measles vs. Rubella
The disease may be defined as the departure from normal or steady internal state of homeostasis through structural or functional disarrays of the body. Measles is an infectious and highly contagious disease which is caused by the measles virus. On the flip side, rubella is an infectious and often mild disease which is caused by the rubella virus. This disease is so much mild that even half of the people do not realize that they are infected by it. Measles usually develops in 10–12 days when exposed to the infected person and lasts for 7–10 days. Whereas Rubella starts in about two weeks when exposed to the infected person and then lasts for three days. Common complications of Measles include pneumonia (6%), diarrhea (in 8% of cases) and middle ear infection (7%) while, complications due to Rubella may include testicular swelling, inflammation of nerves and bleeding problems.
What is Measles?
Measles or Rubeola is a viral disease. It is an unpleasant condition and is highly contagious. The respiratory tract is infected first by the measles virus. Measles only occurs in humans but not in other animals. It is an airborne disease which can easily spread through the sneezes and coughs of infected people. Nine out of ten people who share living space with the infected person will get infected by this disease. There are 24 known genetic types of Measles, while only six are currently circulating.
What is Rubella?
Rubella (German measles) is a rare illness, and it causes a spotty rash. It generally gets better in about seven days (1 week). Rubella can be serious during pregnancy. Rubella is the disease which generally spread through the air through coughs of the people who are infected by the rubella virus. People suffering from it are infectious to others during the week before and after the start of the rash. Its symptoms are so mild that it is difficult to notice them.
ConclusionFrom the above discussion, it is summarized that Measles is an infectious and highly contagious disease that is caused by the measles virus and can be prevented effectively by delivering a measles vaccine in combination with other vaccines. On the other hand, Rubella is a mildly infectious disease caused by Rubella virus and is preventable with a single dose of the rubella vaccine.