About 25% of newborns whose mothers have acquired rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy are born with one or more developmental defects that are related to rubella syndrome. These defects have visual defects (can lead to blindness), hearing loss, heart defects, mental retardation and cerebral palsy. Many babies, who were born with rubella syndrome, have a motor impairment, they slowly perform simple tasks. Although there are cases when a child is born relatively healthy .
Infection with rubella very often leads to miscarriages and the dead birth of the fetus. But this danger is very great if the infection was in the first trimester of pregnancy. But the risk decreases if the infection occurred already in the first weeks of the second trimester of pregnancy. The risk of rubella syndrome in this case is approximately 1%. Some babies who were born after rubella infection by the mother may have temporary health problems. They can be born with a small weight, have problems with nutrition, diarrhea, meningitis, anemia. Temporary changes in blood. The liver or spleen can be enlarged. Some children may appear healthy at birth and during early childhood. But behind these babies you need mandatory long-term monitoring, because the signs of diseases can appear in childhood. This is also a problem with hearing, sight, behavior can appear in childhood. Also, such children have an increased risk of diabetes.
How to determine if a woman is sensitive to the rubella virus
There is a simple blood test that can find out if a woman has immunity to rubella. Studies show whether a woman can have antibodies that defeat this virus. Antibodies are produced by people who have been infected with this virus or have been vaccinated against rubella.
How to prevent congenital rubella syndrome
For this, a woman who wants to have a child before pregnancy should check for antibodies to the rubella virus, and if immunity is not available, vaccinate. If the woman is not vaccinated and the pregnancy has already begun, it is necessary to carefully avoid those who can have or tolerate this disease. There is no other method of prevention for pregnant women. Fear should be in the first trimester of pregnancy, because during this period, the laying and formation of the basic vital organs of the child.
In addition, to prevent the disease of a pregnant woman, a rubella vaccine should be made by the husband, children, close relatives who live with the woman, and it is reliably known that they do not have immunity against the rubella virus.
Today, very often, there are discussions about the dangers or benefits of vaccinations. This aspect we do not consider, as to do or not to do - everyone decides for himself. But in this case, the risk to the fetus is very high. Rubella is a very dangerous disease for a pregnant woman, and therefore in this case, we should weigh the entire benefit and all the risks to which we are exposing the health of the future baby.
Pregnancy is a very crucial period for a woman, and it only depends on her how to make it as safe as possible for a future child.