What is rubella?
Rubella, or German Measles, is a mild disease caused by a virus.It was common in the UK amongst children and is transmitted by the coughs and sneezes of those who are infectious.If you get it you may get a rash and feel a bit unwell, but some people don’t get any symptoms.
If a woman catches rubella early in pregnancy it can be passed on and cause damage to her unborn child.
What is congenital rubella syndrome?
When a pregnant woman catches rubella she passes the infection on to her foetus and it damages the organs as they develop - particularly sight, hearing, heart and the brain.A baby born damaged by rubella is said to have congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
Are there any ongoing health concerns associated with congenital rubella syndrome?
People with congenital rubella syndrome will experience lifelong disability and many on-going health concerns. Some of these may be linked to the rubella virus, in ways that are not fully understood yet.
There is good scientific evidence to show that individuals with CRS are at greater risk of contracting:
- diabetes mellitus
- thyroid dysfunction
- glaucoma
Surveys of people with CRS and anecdotal evidence suggests that a range of other health concerns may be associated with the virus incuding decreasing hearing and sight, mental retardation, joint problems and epilepsy.
What we do know is that it is important for people with CRS to have regular access to health care and health checks, and as with all of us a healthy lifestyle will have a positive impact on their well-being.
The delayed effects of Congenital Rubella Syndrome factsheet.
