Related Experiment Videos
Sensory defects and developmental delay among children with congenital rubella syndrome
Michiko Toizumi1, Giang Thi Huong Nguyen2, Hideki Motomura3
1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Insights
Children with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) often experience developmental delays and sensory impairments. This study highlights the high prevalence of communication, problem-solving, and social difficulties, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Public health
Background:
- Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can lead to significant long-term health issues in affected children.
- Sensory impairments, such as hearing and vision loss, are common in CRS.
- Developmental difficulties, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are increasingly recognized in CRS populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum of developmental difficulties in children with CRS.
- To identify the prevalence and characteristics of sensory defects and developmental delays in a cohort of Vietnamese children with CRS.
- To explore the co-occurrence of ASD in children with CRS and sensory impairments.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 41 children with CRS, born after a 2011 rubella outbreak in Vietnam, were enrolled.
- Children were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Denver II for developmental screening.
- Screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was conducted using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2).
Main Results:
- Of the initial 41 children, 21 were followed up. Hearing impairment was present in 13 (62%) and ophthalmological impairment in 7 (33%).
- Developmental difficulties were suspected in 19 (95%) children, particularly in communication (ASQ) and language (Denver II) domains.
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was suspected in 7 (41%) children in 2013 and diagnosed in 2 (15%) by 2015, with increasing difficulties in problem-solving and personal-social domains.
Conclusions:
- Developmental difficulties, including ASD, are highly prevalent in children with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
- Sensory dysfunction frequently co-occurs with developmental challenges in this population.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for children with CRS to address their complex needs.
Abstract:
This study investigated the features of developmental difficulties combined with sensory defects in children with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Following a large rubella outbreak in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, in 2011, we enrolled 41 children with CRS from September 2011 through May 2013. Fourteen participants died and six became untraceable by October 2013; the remaining 21 children were followed up from 2013 to 2015. Thirteen and seven participants had hearing and functional ophthalmological impairment, respectively. Developmental difficulties were suspected in 19 (95%) children who failed in at least one area of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and/or Denver II in 2013 and/or 2015. Developmental difficulties were frequently identified in the ASQ communication domain (n = 14 in 2013) and Denver II language area (n = 13 in 2013). Seven (41%) participants were suspected of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2013 by the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers. In 2015, proportions of children failing the problem-solving (62%) and personal-social (62%) domains had increased and two of 13 were diagnosed with ASD by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition. Developmental difficulties were suspected in most children with CRS, including autism largely combined with sensory dysfunction.