In rubella infection, which statement about the rash is correct?

• A. Rubella rash begins on the face and spreads to the trunk at the same time as the fever.
• B. Rubella rash begins on the trunk and spreads to the face with fever.
• C. Rubella rash never has fever.
• D. Rubella is caused by a herpes virus.

Answer: (A)

In rubella, the rash characteristically starts on the face and then spreads downward to the trunk and beyond. Fever, when present, is usually mild and tends to accompany the rash rather than being the main feature. So the description that the rash begins on the face and spreads to the trunk at the same time as a fever fits the typical presentation best. Rubella is caused by the rubella virus, a togavirus, not a herpes virus, so the statement about herpes virus is incorrect. The idea that fever is absent isn’t accurate since rubella can have mild fever, and the trunk-to-face pattern described in the other option isn’t typical for rubella.