Congenital rubella syndrome history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dima Nimri, M.D. [2]

The symptoms of rubella in the pregnant woman are similar to those seen in any child or adult with rubella infection. Of note, young women are more likely to suffer from sequelae of polyarthritis and polyarthralgia. In the infant, symptoms such as irritability, low birth weight, skin lesions, white appearance to the cornea may be seen and be suggestive of congenital rubella syndrome.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Rubella infections in adults can be asymptomatic. However, usually a prodrome of cough, coryza, low-grade fever, and malaise precedes the eruption of a rash. The typical rash of rubella starts on the face and spreads caudally. In pregnant women and young females, a sequelae of polyarthralgia or polyarthritis follows the rubella infection.^[1]

Symptoms in the infant may include:^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

• Cloudy cornea or white appearance to pupil
• Inattention to sounds, which may be suggestive of deafness
• Developmental delay
• Seizures
• Small head size
• Bulging of the head
• Skin rash at birth
• Yellow discoloration of skin and eyes
• Diarrhea