Pregnancy and Rubella

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What is rubella and congenital rubella syndrome?

Rubella is an infection caused by the rubella virus. It occurs most commonly in young children, but can affect anyone. The illness is usually mild, though during pregnancy it can cause serious damage to your unborn child. This is called 'Congenital Rubella Syndrome'. Children born with this condition usually have severe brain damage and other problems.

If you are infected with rubella in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy you have about a 9 in 10 chance that your baby will develop congenital rubella syndrome. If rubella is caught later in pregnancy, the risk to the baby declines. Damage to the baby is rare if you are infected with rubella later than 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Before you become pregnant

You should have a blood test before you become pregnant. The blood test checks for antibodies in your blood to show that you are immune to rubella.

• Most children in the UK are immunised against rubella as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme. However, in a small number of children who are immunised (about 1 in 50), the immunisation does not work well. In these children, when they become adults, their body does not have enough antibodies to protect against rubella.
• The only way to check whether you are immune is to have the blood test.
• This blood test may be offered in routine 'well women checks' given to younger women who have not yet become pregnant. If you have not had a test, your practice nurse can arrange for this to be done.
• In particular, women who have come to the UK from overseas may not have been immunised and are then at risk of having a baby with congenital rubella syndrome.
• If the blood test shows that you are not immune, you should be immunised (see separate leaflet called 'Rubella Immunisation').

When you are pregnant

One of the routine blood tests which is taken in early pregnancy checks for rubella antibodies.

• In most women the test is positive for antibodies, which means that you are immune.
• If your test is negative (no antibodies), you are at risk if you come in contact with rubella. You should keep away from people who might have rubella. Once your baby is born, you should be immunised to protect against rubella in future pregnancies.

Further information

Remember Rubella - www.sense.org.uk/rememberrubella/index.cfm
Information about rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, and immunisation against rubella.

© EMIS and PIP 2004   Updated: July 2004   Review Date: August 2005   CHIQ Accredited   PRODIGY Validated

The authors and editors of this article are employed to create accurate and up to date content reflecting reliable research evidence, guidance and best clinical practice. They are free from any commercial conflicts of interest. Find out more about updating.

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