Rubella in newborns

[Gregory]

Rubella is a typically mild childhood viral infection that may, however, have devastating consequences for infants infected before birth.

Rubella is caused by a virus.
The fetus or newborn may have symptoms depending on when during the pregnancy infection occurred.
Blood tests and tests of other samples can be done to detect the virus in the fetus, newborn, or mother.
Vaccination of the mother before becoming pregnant can prevent the infection in the fetus.
There is no specific treatment for the infection.

(See also Overview of Infections in Newborns and Rubella in older children and adults.)
When a baby is born with rubella, the infection is called congenital rubella. In congenital rubella, a woman infected during the first 16 weeks (particularly the first 8 to 10 weeks) of pregnancy passes the virus to the fetus through the placenta (the organ that provides nourishment to the fetus). This infection in the fetus causes miscarriage, stillbirth, or multiple, severe birth defects. The earlier in pregnancy the infection occurs, the greater the risk of severe abnormalities.
Congenital rubella is rare in the United States because rubella vaccination of girls and young women has become routine.