How can rubella affect an unborn baby?

If the fetus gets rubella during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the baby will likely be born with many life-long problems. The most common are eye problems, hearing problems and damage to the heart. If the fetus gets rubella between 12 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, problems are usually milder.

What complications may occur to a fetus and a child with rubella?

Complications include deafness, cataracts, heart defects, brain disorders, mental retardation, bone alterations, liver and spleen damage. Furthermore, an infant infected with rubella during pregnancy can continue to shed the virus for about a year, sometimes longer.

What are the risks to the baby if a woman catches rubella during the first trimester?

If a pregnant woman catches rubella, the infection can be passed to her baby. This can result in problems such as miscarriage and a range of birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome.

How common is rubella in pregnancy?

A baby born with rubella is said to have congenital rubella syndrome. If a woman catches rubella within the first 11 weeks of pregnancy, her baby has a very high chance of being born with the syndrome, while approximately 1 in 3 babies of women infected with rubella between weeks 13 and 16 will be born with it.

When is a pregnant woman at risk for developing congenital rubella syndrome?

A fetus infected early in the pregnancy (especially during the first trimester) has a high probability of developing CRS. In symptomatic women infected with rubella during the first 12 weeks (first trimester) of pregnancy, CRS-associated congenital defects occur in up to 85% of infants.

Does rubella affect the brain?

In rare cases, rubella can cause serious problems, including brain infections and bleeding problems.

What happens if a pregnant woman is not immune to rubella?

If a pregnant woman is not immune to rubella and catches it during the first 5 months of pregnancy, she usually passes the disease on to her fetus. If the fetus gets rubella during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the baby will likely be born with many problems.

Can a baby be born with rubella?

When a baby is born with rubella, the infection is called congenital rubella. In congenital rubella, a woman infected during the first 16 weeks (particularly the first 8 to 10 weeks) of pregnancy passes the virus to the fetus through the placenta (the organ that provides nourishment to the fetus).

Who is the most common victim of rubella?

Key facts. Rubella is a contagious viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults.

How do I know if my baby has rubella?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Rubella? Rubella infection may begin with 1–2 days of mild fever (99°–100°F, 37.2°–37.8°C) and swollen, tender lymph nodes, usually in the back of the neck or behind the ears. A rash then begins on the face and spreads downward. As it spreads, it usually clears on the face.

Where is rubella most common?

Rubella reported cases China is the top country by rubella cases in the world. As of 2020, rubella cases in China was 2,202 that accounts for 21.60% of the world’s rubella cases. The top 5 countries (others are Mozambique, India, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria) account for 65.50% of it.

Does rubella always cause birth defects?

Pregnant women who contract rubella are at risk for miscarriage or stillbirth, and their developing babies are at risk for severe birth defects with devastating, lifelong consequences.

Can rubella cause cleft lip?

Environmental Factors. Most cleft palates seem to be caused by environmental factors that increase a mother’s risk of giving birth to a child with a cleft palate. These factors include: exposure to German measles (Rubella) or other infections.

Does rubella cause congenital malformations?

Rubella is a contagious viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults. Rubella is the leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects. Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as congenital rubella syndrome.