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Pediatrics178 papers

Rubella

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral infection caused by the rubella virus, which can lead to congenital rubella syndrome if contracted during pregnancy, causing severe fetal abnormalities 112.

Diagnosis

  • Serological Testing: Rubella-specific IgM antibodies indicate recent infection; IgG antibodies confirm immunity or past infection 811.
  • Virus Detection: PCR or viral culture from nasopharyngeal swabs or other clinical samples can confirm active infection 1.
  • Clinical Presentation: Characteristic rash, lymphadenopathy, and mild systemic symptoms; neurological and ocular manifestations in congenital cases 514.
  • Management

  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis: Immunoglobulin may be considered for non-immune pregnant women exposed to rubella, though efficacy is limited 1.
  • Supportive Care: Focus on managing symptoms and complications such as joint pain, encephalitis, or polyneuropathy 417.
  • Vaccination: Live attenuated rubella vaccine (RA27/3 strain) for non-immune individuals, excluding pregnant women 612.
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Rubella infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital rubella syndrome; vaccination contraindicated 16.
  • Pediatrics: Early vaccination programs reduce susceptibility in adolescent girls and women of childbearing age 157.
  • Healthcare Workers: Regular serological testing and vaccination to ensure immunity, especially in obstetric departments 19.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Vaccinate Adolescent Girls and Women of Childbearing Age: Ensure rubella immunity to prevent congenital rubella syndrome 157 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Monitor and Vaccinate Healthcare Personnel: Regularly assess and vaccinate healthcare workers, particularly those in obstetric units, to prevent nosocomial transmission 19 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Enhance Communication Between Healthcare Providers: Improve coordination between hospitals and general practitioners to ensure timely vaccination post-partum for non-immune pregnant women 3 (Evidence: Expert opinion).
  • References

    1 Mori Y. Summary of the special symposium 'Towards Elimination of Rubella'. Vaccine 2020. link 2 Schoenhoff DD, Lane TW, Hansen CJ. Primary prevention and rubella immunity: overlooked issues in the outpatient obstetric setting. Infection control and hospital epidemiology 1997. link 3 Wild NJ, Sheppard S, Smithells RW. The consequences of antenatal rubella testing. Health trends 1986. link 4 Verder H, Dickmeiss E, Haahr S, Kappelgaard E, Leerbøy J, Møller-Larsen A et al.. Late-onset rubella syndrome: coexistence of immune complex disease and defective cytotoxic effector cell function. Clinical and experimental immunology 1986. link 5 Bosley AR, Hart RJ. Rubella encephalopathy. The Journal of infection 1985. link93261-x) 6 Preblud SR. Some current issues relating to rubella vaccine. JAMA 1985. link 7 Enders G. Rubella antibody titers in vaccinated and nonvaccinated women and results of vaccination during pregnancy. Reviews of infectious diseases 1985. link 8 Skendzel LP, Wilcox KR, Edson DC. Evaluation of assays for the detection of antibodies to rubella. A report based on data from the College of American Pathologists Surveys of 1982. American journal of clinical pathology 1983. link 9 Ho-Terry L, Cohen A. Antibody response to rubella ribonucleoprotein component after natural infection and after immunization. Journal of medical microbiology 1981. link 10 Cremer NE, Hagens SJ, Cossen CK. Specificity of the passive hemagglutination test for antibody to rubella virus and the passive hemagglutination response after vaccination. Journal of clinical microbiology 1981. link 11 Skendzel LP. Current status of rubella testing: a report based on data from the College of American Pathologists' surveys, 1978-1980. American journal of clinical pathology 1981. link 12 Hiddlestone HJ. Rubella--a safe and necessary vaccine. The New Zealand medical journal 1980. link 13 Hathout H, Al-Nakib W, Lilley H, Abo-Ahmed HS, Nosseir AF. Seroepidemiology of rubella in Kuwait: an alternative vaccination policy. International journal of epidemiology 1978. link 14 Goldstein JH, Gupta MK. Abnormal eye movements in rubella syndrome. Journal of pediatric ophthalmology 1977. link 15 Stoffman JM, Wolfish MG. The susceptibility of adolescent girls to rubella. Observations on 297 girls in Toronto. Clinical pediatrics 1976. link 16 Chretien JH, Esswein JG, McGarvey MA, deStwolinski A. Rubella: pattern of outbreak in a university. Southern medical journal 1976. link 17 Tomlinson IW. Rubella polyneuropathy. Postgraduate medical journal 1975. link 18 Morag A, Morag B, Bernstein JM, Beutner K, Ogra PL. In vitro correlates of cell-mediated immunity in human tonsils after natural or induced Rubella virus infection. The Journal of infectious diseases 1975. link 19 Carne S, Dewhurst CJ, Hurley R. Rubella epidemic in a maternity unit. British medical journal 1973. link 20 Väänänen P, Vaheri A. Large-scale purification of rubella virus and preparation of an experimental split rubella virus vaccine. Applied microbiology 1971. link 21 Plotkin SA, Vaheri A. Human fibroblasts infected with rubella virus produce a growth inhibitor. Science (New York, N.Y.) 1967. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]
      Primary prevention and rubella immunity: overlooked issues in the outpatient obstetric setting.Schoenhoff DD, Lane TW, Hansen CJ Infection control and hospital epidemiology (1997)
    3. [3]
      The consequences of antenatal rubella testing.Wild NJ, Sheppard S, Smithells RW Health trends (1986)
    4. [4]
      Late-onset rubella syndrome: coexistence of immune complex disease and defective cytotoxic effector cell function.Verder H, Dickmeiss E, Haahr S, Kappelgaard E, Leerbøy J, Møller-Larsen A et al. Clinical and experimental immunology (1986)
    5. [5]
      Rubella encephalopathy.Bosley AR, Hart RJ The Journal of infection (1985)
    6. [6]
    7. [7]
    8. [8]
    9. [9]
    10. [10]
    11. [11]
    12. [12]
      Rubella--a safe and necessary vaccine.Hiddlestone HJ The New Zealand medical journal (1980)
    13. [13]
      Seroepidemiology of rubella in Kuwait: an alternative vaccination policy.Hathout H, Al-Nakib W, Lilley H, Abo-Ahmed HS, Nosseir AF International journal of epidemiology (1978)
    14. [14]
      Abnormal eye movements in rubella syndrome.Goldstein JH, Gupta MK Journal of pediatric ophthalmology (1977)
    15. [15]
    16. [16]
      Rubella: pattern of outbreak in a university.Chretien JH, Esswein JG, McGarvey MA, deStwolinski A Southern medical journal (1976)
    17. [17]
      Rubella polyneuropathy.Tomlinson IW Postgraduate medical journal (1975)
    18. [18]
      In vitro correlates of cell-mediated immunity in human tonsils after natural or induced Rubella virus infection.Morag A, Morag B, Bernstein JM, Beutner K, Ogra PL The Journal of infectious diseases (1975)
    19. [19]
      Rubella epidemic in a maternity unit.Carne S, Dewhurst CJ, Hurley R British medical journal (1973)
    20. [20]
    21. [21]
      Human fibroblasts infected with rubella virus produce a growth inhibitor.Plotkin SA, Vaheri A Science (New York, N.Y.) (1967)

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