IMPACT RUBELLA FOR PREGNANCY
What is Rubella ?
Rubella also known as German Measles and tree day measles. It is dengerous
for pregnant woman if infected by Rubella, so every woman who want to get pregnant
should do blood test to know about Rubella infection in her body. Rubella is
very contagious disease but it could be preventable with vaccine. Rubella have
ability to harm the unborn baby. The infection can couse stillbirth, miscarriage,
or serious birth defects.
How Can Pregnant Woman Get Rubella?
Rubella is caused by rubella virus. Rubella is contagious disease, so the person
can get rubella from breathing in droplets that get into the air which infected
person coughs, talk or sneezes. Rubella can also spread by direct contact with
fluids from the nose or throat of an infected person.
What is Congenital Rubella Syndrome?
CRS is the name given to the condition that affects infants infected
by the rubella virus through their mother during pregnancy. Common manifestations
of CRS include:
- Deafness - the most common abnormality.
- Eye problems - cataracts, glaucoma.
- Congenital heart disease.
- Mental retardation - may not be apparent up to 2-4 year after birth.
The severity and risk of the effects of the rubella virus during pregnancy
on the unborn child depend on the time during pregnancy when the rubella infection
occurs. 85% of all infants infected in the first trimester (the first three
months of pregnancy) will be affected after birth. It is important to note that
even a seemingly inapparent infection of the mother will result in a birth defect.
Infants with CRS may be able to infect others with the rubella virus for up
to 1 year after birth. This poses containment problems for those caring for
the child as unless they are immune to the disease they may contract rubella
from the infant.
How is CRS Prevented?
We can prevent the devastating effects of Rubella (CRS) by two ways on both
the mother and the unborn child:
- Make sure that all women are immune before pregnancy - this protects the
mother and the unborn child from the disease.
- Immunize all children, this protects the children themselves but it also
prevents the spread of the disease. Community vaccination programs are the
key to controlling rubella.
Rubella Immunity and Pregnancy
Pregnant woman should do blood test for rubella immunity as part of the "prenatal
blood tests". When the patient discover lacks immunity, it is recommend
vaccination when they are not pregnant. After the following vaccination, one
waits 3 months to assure that the vaccine does not affect an early pregnancy.
Rubellia is a childhood illness that can be very mild in its symptoms to very
obvious with rash and fever.A person is infectious for a few days before the
disease is fully declared. When a woman in the first 3 months of pregnancy contracts
rubella, the impaired development leaves the child severely damaged (blindness,
deafness, heart defects, facial deformities)in at least one-half of babies.
Symptoms of Rubella
The symptoms of Rubella will show up only two to three weeks after exposure
and include slight fever, swollen glands and a mild rash. Sometimes the symptoms
of Rubella may unnoticed.
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