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What is Rubella?
Rubella is a viral disease, which mainly affects the
foetus. If a woman is infected with this virus during the
first three months of pregnancy.
Who are susceptible
of Rubella?
Rubella affects the foetus, if the mother is infected
in the early months of her pregnancy. All girls aged 11 to
19 years and women in the childbearing age are at risk of
developing Rubella.
How Rubella spreads?
Rubella is a contagious disease and spreads through
air by coughing, sneezing, or simply talking.
What is the prevalence
of Rubella in India?
It has been observed that around 40-45% of women in
the childbearing age are susceptible to Rubella. Moreover
it is surprising to know that over 2 lakh babies are born
with birth defects because of Rubella infection during pregnancy
in the Indian sub-continent.
What are the symptoms
and adverse effects of Rubella?
Rubella infection during the early
months of pregnancy may lead to congenital deformities (birth
defects). These birth defects include deafness, cataract,
heart defects and mental retardation in the newborns. Such
children become social and economic burden for parents. Rubella
can also lead to abortions. The chances of developing these
deformities are very high if the infection occurs in the first
three months of pregnancy. The following table gives the chances
of a particular deformity developing:
| Hearing loss |
92%
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| Congenital Heart Disease |
65%
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| Impaired vision |
56%
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| Behaviour disorders |
32%
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| Neurological deficit residual |
26%
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| Hearing and visual defect |
19%
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| Diabetes mellitus |
01%
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What is the incidence of deformities
in the various stages of pregnancy?
The Rubella virus interferes with the development of
organs in the foetus. Therefore, depending on the time of pregnancy
and the organs developing during that time, the type and the
chances of deformities developing in the child varies. The risk
of deformities developing is as follows:
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Time of maternal infection
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Result
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1-2 weeks
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Harmless
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3-11 weeks
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100% infected fetus
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12 weeks
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80% infected fetus
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13-14 weeks
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54% infected fetus
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15-16 weeks
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35% infected fetus
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23-26 weeks
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25% infected fetus
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What is the treatment for Rubella?
Unfortunately there is no treatment for Rubella. Vaccination
is the only way to prevent all these complications.
When should the vaccine be taken and
what is the vaccine schedule for missed doses?
Children can be protected against Rubella with a dose
of MMR at 12-15 months. If missed anytime up to the age of
12-13 years. Moreover, a separate vaccine against Rubella
is also available (R-Vac).
R-Vac should be given to:
·
all girls at puberty (12 years and above)
·
all women of child bearing age and if missed
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Post delivery.
Even males should be vaccinated against Rubella because infected
males can transmit this virus to the females of their family.
Can a pregnant woman take the vaccine?
No, rubella vaccine is not to be taken by a pregnant
woman. Pregnancy must be avoided for 28 days following R-Vac.
This is a precaution that must be taken.
How long does this vaccination offer
protection against Rubella?
Vaccine against Rubella offers long-term protection.
Clinical reports state that sufficient antibodies are present
in the blood even after 21 years of vaccination.
What are the side effects of this
vaccine?
Usually both R-Vac as well as MMR (Tresivac) is well
tolerated. However, in rare cases there are some chances of
mild reactions like low fever.
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