Medical Info: Rubella
Rubella (German measles) is a mild childhood illness that poses a serious threat to the fetus (unborn baby), if the mother contracts the illness during pregnancy. More than 20,000 babies were born with defects during an outbreak of rubella in 1964-65. The same outbreak also resulted in at least 10,000 miscarriages and stillbirths.
Fortunately, major outbreaks of rubella no longer occur in the United States. Since 1969, when a vaccine for rubella became available, children have been routinely vaccinated, helping to prevent the spread of the illness to susceptible pregnant women. Most women of childbearing age are immune to rubella because they either were vaccinated or had the illness during childhood. Because of widespread use of the vaccine, birth defects caused by rubella have become rare.
However, since small outbreaks of rubella continue to occur, the potential for susceptible pregnant women to become infected continues to exist. As many as 2 in 10 women of childbearing age are susceptible to rubella. Women can protect their future children from the effects of rubella by getting tested for immunity prior to pregnancy and being vaccinated if they are not immune.
Medical info:
Risks:
About 25 percent of babies whose mothers contract rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy are born with one or more birth defects which, together, are referred to as congenital rubella syndrome. These birth defects include eye defects (resulting in vision loss or blindness), hearing loss, heart defects, mental retardation and, less frequently, movement disorders.
Many children with congenital rubella syndrome are slow in learning to walk and in doing simple tasks, although some eventually catch up and do well.
The infection frequently causes miscarriage and stillbirth. The risk of congenital rubella syndrome is highest (up to 90 percent) when infection occurs in the first 11 weeks of pregnancy. Birth defects rarely result when maternal rubella occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Some infected babies have health problems that aren’t lasting. They may be born with low birthweight (less than 5-1/2 pounds), or have feeding problems, diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation around the brain) or anemia. Red-purple spots may show up on their faces and bodies because of temporary blood abnormalities that can result in a tendency to bleed easily. The liver and spleen may be enlarged.
Some infected babies appear normal at birth and during infancy. However, all babies whose mothers had rubella during pregnancy should be monitored carefully because problems with vision, hearing, learning and behavior may first become noticeable during childhood. Children with congenital rubella syndrome also are at increased risk of diabetes, which may develop during childhood or adulthood.
Prevention:
The March of Dimes recommends that all women be tested for immunity to rubella before they become pregnant, and that they consider being vaccinated at that time if they are not immune. A nonimmune woman can be vaccinated with the rubella vaccine alone or with a combination vaccine such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), so that her future children will be protected from the congenital rubella syndrome.
Women who missed being tested prior to pregnancy are routinely tested during an early prenatal visit. If a pregnant woman is not immune, she should avoid anyone who has this illness. There is no effective treatment for rubella during pregnancy, nor is there an effective way to prevent rubella in a susceptible woman who is exposed to the illness. Pregnant women who are not immune also should consider being vaccinated after delivery, so that they will be immune during any future pregnancies. A woman who is breastfeeding her baby can safely be vaccinated.
The rubella and MMR vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy, and a woman should wait 28 days after vaccination before she attempts to conceive.
Fortunately, major outbreaks of rubella no longer occur in the United States. Since 1969, when a vaccine for rubella became available, children have been routinely vaccinated, helping to prevent the spread of the illness to susceptible pregnant women. Most women of childbearing age are immune to rubella because they either were vaccinated or had the illness during childhood. Because of widespread use of the vaccine, birth defects caused by rubella have become rare.
However, since small outbreaks of rubella continue to occur, the potential for susceptible pregnant women to become infected continues to exist. As many as 2 in 10 women of childbearing age are susceptible to rubella. Women can protect their future children from the effects of rubella by getting tested for immunity prior to pregnancy and being vaccinated if they are not immune.
Medical info:
Risks:
About 25 percent of babies whose mothers contract rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy are born with one or more birth defects which, together, are referred to as congenital rubella syndrome. These birth defects include eye defects (resulting in vision loss or blindness), hearing loss, heart defects, mental retardation and, less frequently, movement disorders.
Many children with congenital rubella syndrome are slow in learning to walk and in doing simple tasks, although some eventually catch up and do well.
The infection frequently causes miscarriage and stillbirth. The risk of congenital rubella syndrome is highest (up to 90 percent) when infection occurs in the first 11 weeks of pregnancy. Birth defects rarely result when maternal rubella occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Some infected babies have health problems that aren’t lasting. They may be born with low birthweight (less than 5-1/2 pounds), or have feeding problems, diarrhea, pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation around the brain) or anemia. Red-purple spots may show up on their faces and bodies because of temporary blood abnormalities that can result in a tendency to bleed easily. The liver and spleen may be enlarged.
Some infected babies appear normal at birth and during infancy. However, all babies whose mothers had rubella during pregnancy should be monitored carefully because problems with vision, hearing, learning and behavior may first become noticeable during childhood. Children with congenital rubella syndrome also are at increased risk of diabetes, which may develop during childhood or adulthood.
Prevention:
The March of Dimes recommends that all women be tested for immunity to rubella before they become pregnant, and that they consider being vaccinated at that time if they are not immune. A nonimmune woman can be vaccinated with the rubella vaccine alone or with a combination vaccine such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), so that her future children will be protected from the congenital rubella syndrome.
Women who missed being tested prior to pregnancy are routinely tested during an early prenatal visit. If a pregnant woman is not immune, she should avoid anyone who has this illness. There is no effective treatment for rubella during pregnancy, nor is there an effective way to prevent rubella in a susceptible woman who is exposed to the illness. Pregnant women who are not immune also should consider being vaccinated after delivery, so that they will be immune during any future pregnancies. A woman who is breastfeeding her baby can safely be vaccinated.
The rubella and MMR vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy, and a woman should wait 28 days after vaccination before she attempts to conceive.
posted by Jul at
9:49 PM
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