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Congenital perceptive deafness: role of intrauterine rubella
Insights
Congenital rubella infection is a likely cause of perceptive deafness in young children. Rubella antibodies were found in over half of deaf children under four, significantly higher than in the general population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- Congenital perceptive deafness is a significant health concern in children.
- Rubella infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital defects.
- The association between rubella and congenital deafness requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of rubella antibody in children with congenital perceptive deafness.
- To explore the correlation between rubella infection and specific maternal and infant factors.
- To assess the role of intrauterine rubella as a cause of congenital perceptive deafness.
Main Methods:
- Serological testing for rubella antibody in 139 children with congenital perceptive deafness (aged 6 months to 7 years).
- Comparison of rubella antibody prevalence in deaf children under 4 years with a control group of randomly selected children.
- Analysis of maternal history (rash/contact in early pregnancy) and presence of other rubella-type defects.
Main Results:
- Rubella antibody was detected in 61% of children with congenital perceptive deafness.
- Children under 4 years with deafness had a significantly higher prevalence (54%) of rubella antibody compared to controls (7.1%).
- A strong correlation was observed between rubella antibody presence and maternal history of rash/contact and other congenital rubella defects.
Conclusions:
- Intrauterine rubella is a probable cause of congenital perceptive deafness in children, particularly those under 4 years.
- The presence of rubella antibody in a young child with perceptive deafness strongly suggests intrauterine rubella infection.
- Congenital rubella should be considered in the differential diagnosis of congenital perceptive deafness.
Abstract:
Rubella antibody was detected in 85 (61%) of 139 children aged from 6 months to 7 years with congenital perceptive deafness. Of the 112 children who were aged under 4 years 61 (54%) had rubella antibody (seropositive) compared with 7.1% in randomly selected children of the same age. A close correlation was found between the presence of antibody in children with perceptive deafness and (1) a maternal history of rash or contact in early pregnancy, and (2) with the presence of other rubella-type defects. Intrauterine rubella was thought to be the cause of the deafness in 82 (59%) of the 139 children, in 60 of whom deafness was the only rubella defect detected. Thus intrauterine rubella should be considered a likely cause of congenital perceptive deafness in a child under 4 years in whom rubella antibody is present.
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