General information, not a diagnosis Method and limitations

CompareUseful differences

Compare infectious diseases

The same route of exposure may involve very different agents. Compare the mechanisms and prevention, then consult the original records and sources.

Choose up to four diseases

Agents, Exposures and Prevention

Documentary comparison of 3 diseases; no estimate of individual risk
BenchmarkRubellaInfection with parvovirus B19Chickenpox
AgentRubella virusParvovirus B19Varicella zoster virus
FamilyVirusVirusVirus
Paths and contextsRespiratory
Mother and child transmission
Respiratory
Blood and fluids
Mother and child transmission
Respiratory
Close contact
Mother and child transmission
What distinguishes diseaseInfection often benign but likely to cause serious malformations when it occurs during pregnancy.Infection often benign in children but may be problematic during pregnancy or with certain blood diseases.Very contagious viral infection with rash; the virus can then remain latent and reactivate as shingles.
PreventionPre-pregnancy vaccination and high immunization coverage in the population.Respiratory hygiene, hand washing and medical assessment after exposure to risk during pregnancy.Vaccination when recommended and removal of contact with particularly vulnerable people.
DeepeningForm →
WHO — reference
Form →
CDC — référence ↗
Form →
CDC — référence ↗
Diagnosis and monitoringConfirmation requires appropriate examinations. Serological results during pregnancy should be interpreted with previous dates and results.Under certain circumstances, blood antibodies help to appreciate recent infection or immunity. The professional determines whether the test is useful and how to read it.The professional examines the eruption and the context; a sampling may be necessary. An image does not always distinguish varicella and other eruptions.
Preparing for an exchange with a professional
  • Pregnancy term and date of contact
  • Vaccine diary and previous analyses
  • Possible pregnancy and term
  • Blood or immunosuppression disorder
  • Date of contact and onset of eruption
  • Pregnancy, immunosuppression and vaccination

What this table allows to understand

The selected records cover 1 agent family/families. They share the following routes or contexts in our catalogue: Respiratory · Mother and child transmission. These associations describe the selected data; they do not measure contagiousness, severity or personal risk.

To review a comparison, choose one row and open the reference for each column. A preventive measure mentioned in one record and absent from another is not necessarily unnecessary in the second situation: the summaries and their scope may differ.

If symptoms occurThe table does not select any test or treatment. A fever after a stay in the malaria area should be reported promptly, even if prevention has been taken.
Understanding agent, vector and exposure →

Further reading

These publications help you verify the concepts discussed. Disease records and directory entries each identify their sources.

The content modification date does not mean that every source has undergone a new medical review. Verification method and scope.