The impact of rubella virus on the fetus

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on December 08, 2024
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During pregnancy, if the pregnant woman is infected with the rubella virus, the impact on the pregnant woman herself is not significant; however, it primarily causes severe effects on the fetus. The main impact on the fetus is congenital damage, primarily involving congenital developmental abnormalities, with the early stages of pregnancy being the most critical. This period is a crucial phase of fetal development. If infected with the rubella virus, the risk coefficient can be as high as 80%. After intrauterine infection of the fetus, some patients may develop congenital rubella syndrome, primarily involving cardiac defects, cataracts, deafness, and even delayed brain damage after the baby is born.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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The impact of rubella virus on the fetus

During pregnancy, if the pregnant woman is infected with the rubella virus, the impact on the pregnant woman herself is not significant; however, it primarily causes severe effects on the fetus. The main impact on the fetus is congenital damage, primarily involving congenital developmental abnormalities, with the early stages of pregnancy being the most critical. This period is a crucial phase of fetal development. If infected with the rubella virus, the risk coefficient can be as high as 80%. After intrauterine infection of the fetus, some patients may develop congenital rubella syndrome, primarily involving cardiac defects, cataracts, deafness, and even delayed brain damage after the baby is born.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What are the symptoms of rubella virus?

Rubella occurs after infection with the rubella virus, which is a contagious disease. The typical clinical symptoms are fever, rash, and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears and at the back of the head. Generally, the clinical symptoms are relatively mild, the course of the disease is relatively short, and the prognosis is mostly good. However, if a pregnant woman is infected in the early stages of pregnancy, it can potentially affect the growth and development of the fetus. Transmission can occur through ordinary droplets, respiratory transmission, or close contact between individuals. In terms of treatment, there are no specific drugs, and many patients can recover in about two weeks without treatment.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Rubella virus belongs to the Togaviridae family.

Infections with the rubella virus require treatment in infectious disease departments, as it is a contagious disease caused by the rubella virus, characterized as an acute, rash-causing infectious disease. Typical clinical symptoms include fever, a body-wide rash, and swelling of the lymph nodes behind the ears, although most cases are relatively mild and short in duration. Both children and adults can contract the disease, which can easily lead to outbreaks; school-aged children between five and nine years old are at high risk. There are no specific drugs for the treatment of rubella; generally, most people recover on their own within about two weeks.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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"Rubella virus positive" means what?

Rubella virus positive, in fact, most cases are diagnosed through blood tests for rubella virus IgG antibodies or IgM antibodies. It depends on which specific indicator is tested. If the IgM antibody is positive and the IgG antibody is negative, it indicates an ongoing infection. If both IgG and IgM antibodies are positive, it can be diagnosed as a rubella virus infection. If the IgG antibody is positive and the IgM antibody is negative, it indicates a past infection with no current rubella virus infection. If the rubella virus is cultured or detected in nasal secretions or blood, a definitive diagnosis can be made.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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What department should I go to for rubella virus testing?

If testing for rubella virus, it is best to consult the Department of Infectious Diseases or the Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. Rubella virus-specific antibody IgM can be detected through blood tests, or the virus can be isolated from the patient's nasopharyngeal secretions. For pregnant women, the presence of the rubella virus in the amniotic fluid can be examined to diagnose whether the fetus has contracted the infection. After rubella virus infection, there are no specific antiviral drugs available; treatment mainly involves symptomatic care. Rubella itself is a self-limiting disease, which usually fully recovers in about two weeks.