Related Experiment Videos
[Rubella infection in low birth weight infants]
1Ondokuzmayis Universitesi, Tip Fakültesi, Cocuk Sağliği ve Hastaliklari Anabilim Dali.
Insights
Rubella infection may be linked to low birth weight. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected rubella in four infants, with two severe cases resulting in death.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Neonatology
Context:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant global health concern.
- Intrauterine infections are a known risk factor for LBW.
- Rubella virus is a teratogen that can cause congenital abnormalities.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between rubella infection and low birth weight infants.
- To detect rubella-specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in LBW infants using ELISA.
Summary:
- Thirty LBW infants were tested for rubella infection using ELISA.
- Four infants (13.3%) showed seropositive results for rubella IgG and IgM.
- Two of the four seropositive infants experienced severe complications, including hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis, and tracheoesophageal fistula, leading to mortality.
Impact:
- Findings suggest a potential link between asymptomatic intrauterine rubella infection and LBW.
- Highlights the importance of considering rubella in the differential diagnosis of LBW infants.
- Underscores the need for rubella vaccination programs to prevent congenital rubella syndrome and its sequelae.
Abstract:
Rubella infection in low birth weight infant was investigated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Thirty Low birth weight infants were included in this study. Seropositive reaction (both Ig G and Ig M) was found in four of the cases. One of the infants who showed hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis and Low birth weight and another case who had tracheoesophageal fistula died in three days. The other two cases which showed seropositive reaction are being followed up as healthy children. We reached the conclusion that Low birth weight may be related to asymptomatic intrauterine rubella infection.