MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Congenital rubella

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Congenital rubella

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Slit-lamp exam

Rubella on an infant's back

Rubella Syndrome

Definition Return to top

Congenital rubella is a group of physical abnormalities that occur in an infant as a result of infection of the mother with rubella virus.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Congenital rubella is caused by the destructive action of the rubella virus on the fetus at a critical time in development. The most critical time is the first trimester (the first 3 months of a pregnancy). After the 4^th month, maternal rubella infection is less likely to harm the developing fetus.

The incidence of rubella syndrome has decreased dramatically since the advent of rubella vaccine.

Risk factors include lack of the recommended rubella immunization and contact with a person who has rubella. Non-immunized, non-immune pregnant women are at risk for infection and subsequent damage to the fetus.

Symptoms Return to top

History of mother having rubella while pregnant (particularly in the first trimester)
Skin rash at birth (purpura, petechiae)
Low birth weight
Small head size (microcephaly)
Lethargy
Irritability
Deafness
Seizures
Cloudy corneas or white appearance to pupil (leukocoria)
Developmental delay
Mental retardation

Signs and tests Return to top

Eye findings:

Cataracts
Glaucoma
Retinitis

Congenital heart disease findings:

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Pulmonary artery stenosis
Other heart defects

Central nervous system findings:

Mental retardation
Motor retardation
Small head (microcephaly) from failed brain development
Encephalitis
Meningitis

Others associated findings:

Deafness
Low blood platelet count
Enlarged liver and spleen
Abnormal muscle tone
Bone disease

Tests include:

Urine tests, nasopharyngeal secretions tests, or cerebrospinal fluid tests for virus
Antibody tests

Treatment Return to top

There is no specific treatment for rubella syndrome. Care involves appropriate treatment of affected systems in consultation with your health care providers.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The prognosis for children with congenital rubella depends on the signs and symptoms present. Some findings, such as heart defects, can be corrected. However, findings such as nervous system damage cannot.

Complications Return to top

As described above under Signs and Tests and Symptoms.

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if you have concerns about congenital rubella, if you are unsure of your vaccination status, or if you or your child needs rubella vaccine.

Prevention Return to top

Vaccination prior to pregnancy can prevent congenital rubella. Pregnant women who are non-immune should avoid contact with persons with rubella.

Update Date: 1/21/2004

Updated by: Philip L. Graham III, M.D., M.S., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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