The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by postnatally acquired rubella:
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Bronchitis (rare; occurrence especially in older age).
Blood, blood-forming organs – immune system (D50-D90).
- Thrombocytopenia (deficiency of platelets) – resulting in an increased risk of bleeding.
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).
- Pericarditis and myocarditis (inflammation of the pericardium and myocardium; rare; occurrence especially in older age).
Liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts-pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).
- Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Arthralgia (joint pain; esp. in adulthood).
- Arthritis (inflammation of the joints; rare; occurrence bes. in older age).
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain; rare; occurs especially in older age).
The following are the most important diseases or complications that can be co-conditioned by congenitally acquired rubella:
Gregg triad: congenital heart defect, inner ear deafness and cataract.
Respiratory System (J00-J99)
- Pneumonia (pneumonia)
Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59).
- Glaucoma* – “glaucoma”, intraocular pressure elevation.
- Cataract* – “cataract”, clouding of the lens of the eye; bilateral (bilateral), unilateral (one-sided).
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Retinopathy* – diseases of the retina of the eye.
* 50-55 %
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96).
- Preterm birth
- Rubella embryopathy (e.g., malformations of the eyes and heart, deafness, brain defects)
Blood, blood-forming organs – immune system (D50-D90).
- Hemolytic anemia – anemia due to destruction of red blood cells.
- Thrombocytopenia purpura – deficiency of platelets (thrombocytes), these are important for clotting (45%).
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90).
- Diabetes mellitus (late manifestation).
- Thyroid dysfunction – malfunction of the thyroid gland.
- Pubertas praecox – premature puberty
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99)
- Congenital Vitia (congenital heart defects; patent ductus botalli, aortic valve stenosis, ventricular septal defect) (52-80%).
Liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts-pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).
- Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) (common).
- Hepatosplenomegaly – enlargement of the liver and spleen.
Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).
- Hernias (hernias of the intestines).
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Osseous malformations (bone malformations; 30%): e.g., bone atrophy.
Ears – mastoid process (H60-H95).
- Hearing loss (sensorineural deafness); severe to mild; unilateral and bilateral (≥ 50%).
Psyche – Nervous System (F00-F99; G00-G99).
- Mental retardation – mental developmental disorders.
- Autism – developmental disorders with perceptual and information processing disorder.
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) (common).
- Epilepsy (seizures)
- Paralysis
- Meningoencephalitis – combined inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and meninges (meningitis).
- Microcephalus – head that has a comparatively small size; the circumference of the head in this case is three standard deviations less than the mean for a person of the same age and sex.
- Progressive panencephalitis (progressive inflammation of the entire brain; late manifestation).
- Retardation (psychomotor; mental (severe to mild)) (40-50 %)
Pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium (O00-O99).
- Abortion (miscarriage)
- Premature birth
- Birth weight (< 2,500 g) (60%)
- Stillbirth
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
- Hepatosplenomegaly (liver and spleen enlargement) (60%).
- Icterus (jaundice)
Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99)
- Cryptorchidism – malposition of the testis (undescended testis).
Further
- Total lethality 13-20
Frequency figures (%)
Rubella embryopathy rates and incidence of malformations in relation to the timing of rubella in pregnancy (mod. by)
| Gestational age (gestational age) at onset of exanthema (rash) | Embryopathy rate (%) | Malformations |
| Until 10th day after 1st day of last menstruation (period) | Approximately 3.5 (= risk of spontaneously occurring malformation). | No confirmed association with maternal rubella disease |
| <12TH SSW | 25 – 65 | Main risk for congenital rubella embryopathy (rubella syndrome). |
| 12-18 SSW | 8 – 20 | Single manifestation Single manifestation; usually isolated hearing damage. |
| > 18TH SSW | approx. 3.5 | No confirmed association with maternal (mother’s) rubella disease |
SSW: week of pregnancy
