Everyone Healthy Library
Congenital Rubella
Also Known As: Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS)
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
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Condition overview
Attributes
Ageis Infant
Linked signs and symptoms
18Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
- Anaemia (Anemia)
- Birth Weight Low
- Brain or Intracranial Pressure Increase
- Deafness
- Eye: Vision Impairment
- Growth Impairment or Stunted
- Head: Small Size
- Immune Dysfunction
- Labor Before 37 Weeks Gestation
- Liver Enlarged Or Tender
- Mind: Developmental Delay
- Mind: Irritability
- Pregnancy: Miscarriage
- Reduced Immune System Function
- Skin Lesions
- Skin Rash
- Skin Yellowing (Jaundice)
- Speech Articulation Problem (Dysarthria)
Linked drugs / medications
0No linked drugs are listed yet.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
2Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
6These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
Biological markers/agents
7This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
5- BilirubinReference range exampleBirth - 2wks: 1–10 mg/dL; 0.3–1Linked diagnostic testsBilirubin Concentration (Neonates, Neonatal Bilirubin)
- LymphocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 25–40 %; 700–3,500 cells/mm3Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Lymphocytes Count
- Normal Nystagmus ResponseReference range exampleAll: 2–10 PresentLinked diagnostic testsElectronystagmography (ENG)
- Normal Oculovestibular ReflexReference range exampleAll: 1–10 Present; All: 1–10 PresentLinked diagnostic testsElectronystagmography (ENG), Electroretinography (ERG)
- Rubella Virus Serology (Specific Antibodies to Rubella Virus)Reference range exampleAll: 0–1 NegativeLinked diagnostic testsRubella Virus Serology Test
Often decreased
2- EosinophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–3 %; 0–3 %Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Eosinophil Differential Of Total WBC
- Fetal Biophysical Profile (FBP) ScoreReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 8–10Linked diagnostic testsFetal Biophysical Profile (FBP)
Introduction / full article
Congenital Rubella
Congenital Rubella Syndrome
Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is an infection among infants by a type of virus that belongs to the genus Rubivirus that may cause complications that involve the eyes, heart and central nervous system. [1]
Epidemiology
Only half of the global population receives immunization. The disease is still a major concern in many nations. [2] In the United States, the number of cases has decreased immensely since 1970. [3]
Causes
Congenital rubella typically causes detrimental effects to the baby when the infection of the mother happens on the first three months of the pregnancy. [1] If the mother had the infection on the first 10 weeks, there is a projected 90% chance that the baby will be affected with the effects involving multiple organ system. If the infection takes place between the 11th to 16th week of pregnancy, the chance falls down to about 10 to 20% and that the affectation will be a lone sensory deficit. [3]
The virus can be spread through direct contact with discharges that come from the nose and mouth. It can be passed on by the mother to the baby through bloodstream. [4]
Signs and Symptoms
The patient can have a low birth weight. Skin rashes and small head size may be noticeable at birth. During physical examination of the eye, there can be cloudy cornea. Eye problems include cataract and glaucoma. Depending on the anatomical area that is affected, the infant may have deafness, seizure or heart problems. Other signs and symptoms include developmental delay, irritability, enlarged spleen and liver, intellectual disabilities and excessive sleepiness. [1] [4]
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is clinical. Increased level of immunoglobulin M or IgM is an important finding. [2] Another way of confirming the diagnosis is by isolation of the virus. [5]
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for CRS. Treatment is supportive and is dependent on the manifestations on the patient. Vaccination is extremely advocated especially for those who are planning to get pregnant. Have the vaccine at least 28 days beforehand. Patients who are already pregnant must NOT get the vaccine. [2] [4]
References:
1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001658.htm
2. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/802617-overview#a0199
3. http://www.sense.org.uk/content/congenital-rubella-syndrome
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site605/mainpageS605P1.html