The consequences of rubella in children can be very diverse. The nature of complications depends on the age of the child and the characteristics of the pathology.
The most serious consequences of rubella in children
If the disease proceeds without any manifestations, then it does not cause any consequences in a child who has been ill with measles rubella. Encephalitis is considered the most serious complication of rubella. A similar consequence of the disease occurs only among adolescents and in adult patients. Inflammation of the membranes of the brain develops in one case out of 10 thousand. Most often, the complication occurs very quickly and manifests itself before the appearance of a rash. Very rarely, rashes all over the patient’s body appear before the onset of autoimmune encephalitis.
Encephalitis is accompanied by a sharp deterioration in the general condition and confusion. Very soon, patients develop meningeal symptoms, in the most severe cases, a convulsive syndrome occurs, which can result in respiratory arrest and depression of the cardiovascular system. Lack of medical care can cost a child’s life.
Another serious complication of rubella can be damage to the central nervous system, which can be expressed in the form of paresis and paralysis. The probability of developing such diseases is approximately 25% of all diagnosed cases of the disease, and infant mortality in a similar course of rubella reaches 30% or more.
Congenital rubella in children can also cause serious consequences, which appear several years after the infectious process. Intrauterine damage to the fetus by a virus sometimes results in a violation of brain activity, a violation of mental development, mental disability, a violation of speech and the ability to write. In addition, over time, children may develop a persistent decrease in intelligence, which occurs with impaired coordination of movement, which is associated with inconsistent work of individual parts of the brain. Such long-term effects of rubella are not treatable.
Rubella vaccine
The only reliable way to prevent outbreaks of rubella is vaccination against this infectious disease. The first time it is given at 12 months of a child’s life, re-vaccination is carried out at 6 and 12 years. In adolescence, the drug is administered mainly to girls; for young men of puberty, rubella no longer poses any danger.
Modern medicine suggests using a combined vaccine containing, in addition to rubella titers, weakened pathogens of smallpox, measles and mumps. Persistent immunity, according to studies, provided that all the requirements of the vaccination schedule are met, is developed in 95% of cases.
Before planning the conception of a child, a woman is recommended to take a blood test for rubella. In the absence of antibodies, the doctor may recommend a second vaccination. It is important to remember that vaccination is not carried out during the onset of pregnancy in order to prevent serious complications in the fetus. From the moment the drug is administered to a woman and until the conception of a child, at least 90 days must pass, and breastfeeding is also not allowed on these days.