Final answer:
Rubella is also known as German measles (option d) and is a viral disease that can cause severe complications if contracted during pregnancy. It is usually mild and is preventable by the MMR vaccine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral disease that is generally mild and causes symptoms such as a facial rash that spreads to the extremities, followed by a low-grade fever, headache, conjunctivitis, cough, runny nose, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash associated with rubella is less intense than measles, and unlike measles, it does not produce Koplik's spots.
Rubella is especially dangerous if contracted by pregnant women because the rubella virus can cross the placenta, potentially leading to congenital rubella syndrome, which is a severe complication that can cause birth defects, miscarriage, or stillbirth, particularly if infection occurs early in pregnancy. Vaccination is highly effective at preventing rubella, with the MMR vaccine being used to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella.