Waheeduz Zaman Tariq, Ziaullah, Karamat Ahmed Karamat.
Rubella Virus - cause of preventabale congenital anomalies.
Pak Armed Forces Med J Jan ;52(1):92-5.

There is lack of awareness about existence and impact of Rubella virus infection in Pakistan because of virology service being missing in most of the health care providing system. Like many other diagnostic tests for rubella, the test for anti-rubella IgM is done for the diagnosis of congenital Rubella infection in case of infants less than six moths of age, high risk ladies (mainly pregnant) and some males. The planning for the most appropriate test is personally done by the virologist. Altogether, a total of 910 sera were tested at Virology department of Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi from January 1994, to September 1996. Out of them, seventy showed an evidence of acquisition of rubella by being positive for that test (7.7%). Forty three were females and twenty seven were males. Twenty two of them were less than six months of age. These were considered to be the cases of congenital rubella virus infection. Six had persistent jaundice with hepatosplenomegaly since birth, five bilateral congenital cataract and four different kinds of cardiac anomalies. Three had delayed cry with evidence of respiratory tract infection. Two had microcephaly and two had deafness. Among twenty four cases, in age group older than 14 years, ten were pregnant females in their first trimester. Foetal infection with Rubella virus is a preventable cause of congenital malformations and mental retardation. Clinical suspicion of rubella or contact in a family with a rash like illness during pregnancy must immediately be evaluated serologically and appropriate action if required should be taken. This is a review article.

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