Congenital rubella syndrome occurs in babies whose mothers have been in contact with rubella virus during pregnancy and have not been treated. The baby’s contact with rubella virus can have several consequences, mainly in its development, since the virus is able to cause calcifications in certain areas of the brain, as well as deafness and vision problems, for example.
Babies with congenital rubella should undergo clinical treatment, surgery and rehabilitation in childhood to improve their quality of life, in addition, because the disease can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions and urine for up to 1 year, it is recommended to stay away from other un vaccinated children and start attending day care from the first day of life or when doctors indicate that there is no longer a risk of transmission disease.
- The best way to prevent rubella is vaccination.
- And the first dose should be given at 12 months of age.
- For women who wish to become pregnant but have not been vaccinated against rubella.
- The vaccine can be given in a single dose.
- However it takes about 1 month to get pregnant because the vaccine is made with the virus attenuated.
- Learn more about rubella vaccine.
Congenital rubella can be diagnosed even during pregnancy or after birth based on observation of certain physical and clinical characteristics, as rubella virus can interfere with the baby’s development, so the signs of congenital rubella are:
In addition, rubella virus can cause neuronal disturbances, leading to mental retardation and even calcification of certain areas of the brain and microcephaly, which may have more severe limitations.The child may also be diagnosed with other changes, such as diabetes and autism.until the age of 4, so it is necessary to be accompanied by several doctors in order to establish the best form of treatment.
The most important complications and deformities are seen in children whose mothers became infected during the first trimester of pregnancy, but even if the pregnant woman becomes infected in the final stages of pregnancy, rubella virus can come into contact with the baby and cause developing changes.
Diagnosis of congenital rubella is made during pregnancy, either by measuring antibodies against rubella in the mother’s blood or by ingsing the virus in the amniotic fluid, which is the fluid that protects the baby.
Rubella serology should be performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, along with other essential tests, and may be repeated if the pregnant woman has symptoms of rubella or has been in contact with people with the disease.See what tests the pregnant woman should take.
If a diagnosis of congenital rubella has not yet been made during pregnancy and the mother has been infected with the virus, it is important that the pediatrician accompanies the child, observing possible developmental delays.
Treatment of congenital rubella varies from child to child, as symptoms are not the same for all babies with congenital rubella.
Complications of congenital rubella are not always curable, but clinic, surgery and rehabilitation should be initiated as soon as possible for the child to develop better, for example, these babies should be accompanied by a team made up of a pediatrician, cardiologist, ophthalmologist and neurologist, and should undergo physiotherapy sessions to improve their motor and brain development , and often may need help walking and eating, for example.
To relieve symptoms, your doctor may also recommend the use of painkillers, fever medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunoglobulins.