Congenital rubella syndrome occurs in babies whose mother had contact with the rubella virus during pregnancy and who has not been treated. The baby's contact with the rubella virus can lead to several consequences, mainly with regard to its development, since this virus is capable of causing calcifications in some regions in the brain, in addition to deafness and vision problems, for example.
Babies with congenital rubella should undergo clinical treatments, surgeries and undergo rehabilitation in childhood to improve their quality of life. In addition, as the disease can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions and urine for up to 1 year, it is recommended that you be kept away from other children who have not been vaccinated and start attending daycare from the first day. year of life or when doctors indicate that there is no longer any risk of disease transmission.
The best way to prevent rubella is through vaccination, and the first dose should be administered at 12 months of age. In the case of women who want to become pregnant but who have not been vaccinated against rubella, the vaccine can be taken in a single dose, however, one should wait about 1 month to become pregnant, since the vaccine is made with the attenuated virus. Learn more about the rubella vaccine.
Signs of congenital rubella
Congenital rubella can be diagnosed even during pregnancy or after birth based on the observation of some physical and clinical characteristics, since rubella virus can interfere with the baby's development. Thus, the signs of congenital rubella are:
- Hearing problems, such as deafness, for example, that can be identified through the ear test. Learn how the ear test is done; Vision problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma or blindness, which can be detected by examining the eye. See what the eye test is for, Meningoencephalitis, which is inflammation in various areas of the brain, Purpura, which are small red spots that appear on the skin that do not disappear when pressed; Cardiac changes, which can be identified by ultrasound; Thrombocytopenia, which corresponds to a decrease in the amount of platelets.
In addition, the rubella virus can cause neuronal changes, leading to mental retardation, and even the calcification of some areas of the brain and microcephaly, whose limitations may be more severe. The child can 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 greatest complications and deformities are observed in children whose mothers were infected in the first trimester of pregnancy, but even if the pregnant woman is infected in the final stage of pregnancy, rubella virus can come into contact with the baby and lead to changes in her development.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of congenital rubella is made during pregnancy, by measuring antibodies against rubella present in the mother's blood or by isolating the virus in the amniotic fluid, which is the fluid that protects the baby.
Rubella serology should be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, along with other essential tests, and can be repeated if the pregnant woman has Rubella symptoms or has been in contact with people with the disease. See which tests the pregnant woman needs to do.
If the diagnosis of congenital rubella has not been made yet during pregnancy and the mother has been infected by the virus, it is important that the pediatrician accompanies the child, observing possible delays in its development.
How to treat
The treatment of congenital rubella varies from one child to another, as the symptoms are not the same for all babies with congenital rubella.
Complications of congenital rubella are not always curable, but clinical, surgical treatment and rehabilitation should be started as soon as possible so that the child can develop better. Thus, these babies must be accompanied by a team composed of a pediatrician, cardiologist, ophthalmologist and neurologist, and must undergo physiotherapy sessions to improve their motor and brain development, and may often need assistance to walk and eat, for example.
To alleviate the symptoms, the doctor may also recommend the use of painkillers, medicines for fever, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunoglobulins.
