German measles is also known as what?

German measles is commonly referred to as rubella. This viral infection is characterized by a distinct rash and mild symptoms, often including fever and lymphadenopathy. The name "German measles" originates from the disease's historical association with Germany, where it was first described, distinguishing it from rubeola, which is often called regular measles and is caused by a different virus with more severe symptoms.

Rubella is particularly notable because it can have significant implications for pregnant women and their developing babies, leading to congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause serious birth defects. The vaccine against rubella is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine that is widely administered to prevent these illnesses.

The other options refer to distinct diseases: mumps is caused by a different virus and primarily affects the salivary glands; rubeola refers to standard measles, which has more severe symptoms; and scarlet fever is a streptococcal infection characterized by a bright red rash, which is unrelated to rubella. Understanding these differences helps clarify why rubella is the appropriate term for German measles.