Rubella and Neonatal Effects Rubella is an essentially harmless disease that resembles measles, however, it is highly teratogenic to a developing fetus. If a pregnant woman contracts rubella, the fetus is at risk to develop Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) which can result in tissue and organ damage. Proper nursing interventions and teaching should be done to prevent the spread of rubella and to lower the rates of CRS.
A History and Epidemiology for Rubella
Until the 18th century, rubella was often confused with measles and scarlet fever. In 1952 and 1958, two German scientist were able to isolate the rubella virus and it was given the name “German Measles” until 1866 when a Scottish physician gave it the name “Rubella” (Duszack,
…show more content…
After sixteen weeks of gestation, the risk of fetal death, malformation, and miscarriage is much less. “Since the effects of CRS vary with gestational age at the time of infection, accurate gestational dating should be established, as it is critical to counseling” (Dontigny, Arsenault, & Martel, 2008, p. 155).
Consequences of Maternal Infection for Unborn Fetus
The rubella Virus is very teratogenic, and should a maternal infection occur, the developing fetus might develop congenital rubella syndrome. As said earlier, amount of injury to the developing fetus is highly dependent on what stage of development the fetus is in. The rubella virus targets all organs and tissues of the body and has a wide range of effects.
Tests to determine Maternal and Fetal Infection
Tests can be done to determine maternal or fetal infection of the rubella virus. According to Dontigny et al. (2008) if maternal infection is suspected, a serology test using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) is used to test for rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in maternal blood. A rise in rubella IgG antibodies, a positive serologic test for IgM antobodies and a positive rubella culture are essential to maternal diagnosis of infection (Dontigny et al., 2008). If maternal infection has been determined, test to determine if the virus has spread to the fetus should be performed
Neonatal RDS is a condition of increasing respiratory distress commencing at or shortly after birth (BAPM-2006). It’s the single most important cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants (Greenough, et al 2004). Typically RDS affects preterm infants with the incidence being inversely proportional to the gestational age (Stewart 2005) Approximately 60% of those born before 28 weeks gestation are affected (Fraser, et al 2004) Incidence also increases in infants of diabetic mothers those born via elective caesarean section (Fraser, et al 2004) and perinatal asphyxia (Rodriguez, 2003).
Measles was discovered in the 19th century by a Persian Doctor, but was not recognized until 1957 as an infectious agent in human blood by a Scottish physician. In 1912 measles became a notifiable disease and in the first decade that records were kept there was on average 6,000 deaths per year reported from the disease. (Center For Disease Control). There is no definite origination of measles but scientists believe that it dates back to the Roman Empire about the 11th and 12th century (NCBI, 2010). The first outbreak known in America was in 1657 in Boston,
If a woman is exposed to shingles during her pregnancy, and acquires shingles, her pregnancy may be complicated. The mother may get very sick, and the baby may get chicken pox right away or within a few days of birth. If the pregnant woman has shingles within a few days before birth this can be very bad for the baby. The newborn baby might not be able to handle all the stress on the body of the virus attacking the nerves so young. It is not very common for this to happen although it can.
Healthy people may experience no ill-effects from this infection, but the risks are substantial for pregnant women as the greatest danger is to the unborn baby, with increased risks of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature labour.
Congenital rubella infection, or CRI, manifests itself as the following transient signs and symptoms: bone lesions, hepatitis, neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura, meningoencephalitis. In addition to that, some sequelae that are late-emerging with the disease include progressive rubella panencephalitis and diabetes mellitus, added on to the heart disease, mental retardation, cataracts, and deafness as defined in the past to be due to congenital rubella infection. (1) Between the patterns of immune response and virus excretion of congenital vs. postnatal rubella, sharp contrasts were documented. The enormous production and distribution of attenuated rubella virus vaccines in 1969 played a major role in the prevention of a rubella epidemic. However, even in the U.S., pockets of rubella still remain. To eliminate rubella entirely, there will be much more effort required.
One of the initial steps in finding a cure for measles was naming and withdraws of the germ that caused the disease. You know when you have the flu, chickenpox and pneumonia; those cause bacteria and virus. However, in 1920 people were sick and had the flu they didn’t know it was the influenza virus so they called it the Spanish flu. In 1920 Herbert McLean Evans discovered Vitamin E, Elmer V. McCollum discovered vitamin D, vitamins A, B, C, K, and various subtypes of each were also discovered during the 1920s. During 1920, measles was a common childhood illness.
c. Rubella has similar symptoms to mumps. However, if contracted by a pregnant woman with a less than 3-month developed fetus, it
Genital herpes is particularly concerning for pregnant women because the virus can be passed to the unborn or newborn baby and cause serious problems.
Measles, mumps and rubella are all considered viral diseases that are contagious. Any one of these diseases can make someone who has not been vaccinated for MMR very sick. Starting with measles here is a list of a few of the more serious symptoms and complications caused by this disease: pneumonia, brain damage, and death (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/mmr-vaccine.html). Now a list of the worst symptoms and complications that one can expect to suffer if infected with the mumps: swollen salivary glands, swelling of the testicles or ovaries, deafness, inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and
It is important to understand that these risks are rare and that some of these risks are associated with child birth. What matters is that you are aware that these risks exist as you strive to make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
One of the chilling facts associated with Pertussis is that when it is in infancy,it is nearly identical to the common cold. Making it a living nightmare for the parents of young kids. This is because most parents cannot tell a cold and Whooping Cough apart. People who have recently become parents have a higher risk of their baby contracting the disease. Since kids make up a large part of the population, it is extremely important to be vaccinated. Getting a vaccine greatly reduces the chance of contracting the
In Bell County, the doctors recommended immediate notification if an infant is affected so treatment can promptly begin. It is significant to understand that pertussis can kill the infants which is the reason why vaccination among the adults and children is imperative. Of course, the infant can obtain immunized for pertussis and sometimes the immunity is not guaranteed for the infant. Every Child by Two (2015) states that 90% of deaths for children under one is related to pertussis. Additionally, among half of those infants required hospitalization for their condition. According to the CDC, children who do not acquire their five doses of
Measles is caused by a virus known as Paramyxovirus which is highly contagious. About 85% of people that are exposed to the virus are infected by it and about 95% of those people infected by the virus will develop an illness called measles(Carson-DeWitt
The Latin name for measles is rubeola. The pathogen which causes the disease is a paramyxovirus, which is one of a group of RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses. Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus, and also comes out in a rash. The virus enters the body via the respiratory system, and grows in the cells at the back of the throat and in the cells that line the lungs, from there it then enters the blood stream and circulates the body.
If a pregnant woman gets infected with the varicella virus, the baby is going to get infected