Congenital rubella

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Rubella on an infant's back

Rubella Syndrome

Slit-lamp exam

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

The outcome for a child with congenital rubella depends on the severity of the abnormalities present. Heart defects can often be corrected. Damage to the nervous system is permanent.

Complications may involve many parts of the body.

Eyes:

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Retinitis

Heart:

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

Central nervous system:

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

Other:

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

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.

Review Date: 01/24/2006
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.