Rubella virus pictures

The constellation of abnormalities caused by infection with the virus before birth. The syndrome is characterized by multiple and mental retardation. The individual features of the syndrome include growth retardation, (abnormally ), , , microphthalmia (abnormally small eyes), malformations, , and mental retardation. Deafness is common. After birth the child may develop due to gradual destruction of the pancreas by the rubella virus. The child has a 50% risk of being born with the congenital rubella syndrome, if the mother is infected with rubella in the (the first third) of . Risks still exist with infection in the The discovery of the congenital rubella syndrome by the Australian ophthalmologist (eye doctor) NM Gregg in 1941 is of historic importance. It provided the first evidence that the placental barrier between the mother and the fetus does not fully protect the fetus from teratogens (agents that can cause birth defects). The rubella epidemic of 1963-1965 resulted in 1, 800, 000 infected individuals, approximately 20, 000 fetal deaths and about 30, 000 infants born with congenital rubella syndrome. Since the introduction of the rubella vaccine in 1969 there are less than 120 cases of congenital rubella syndrome reported each year. The condition also goes by the name of fetal rubella effects.

Image Source: Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology Klaus Wolff, Richard Allen Johnson, Dick Suurmond Copyright 2005, 2001, 1997, 1993 by The McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights reserved.