Why is Rubella especially dangerous for pregnant women?

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Huynh Thi Diem Thuy - Vaccine Consultant - Pediatrics - Neonatology Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Rubella is a benign typhus disease that is not dangerous, but is quite serious because of the potential to cause birth defects in the unborn baby. So why is Rubella especially dangerous for pregnant women? Please refer to the article below to learn about Rubella disease and its symptoms.

Rubella is an acute infectious disease caused by the Rubella virus, usually spread through secretions from the nose and throat. Most of the disease is usually mild, the disease is common in children and young adults. Rubella disease causes dangerous harm to the health of the mother as well as the fetus if the mother is infected with the virus during pregnancy.
Patients with Rubella are most at risk of transmission one week before the rash appears and one week after. Children with congenital rubella syndrome can carry the virus in their urine, nose and throat secretions for a year or more, and pass the infection on to unvaccinated people.
Rubella is present all over the world, usually occurring in winter and spring. The only reservoir of the rubella virus is a person with an infected person. The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract by coughing, sneezing, contact with an infected person or nasopharyngeal secretions. The infectious phase occurs from 7 days before to 7 days after the rash appears. Like measles, rubella virus is highly contagious and can cause major epidemics in communities that are not immune to rubella virus.

Rubella disease is very dangerous for pregnant women, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy when the fetal organs are formed. Rubella virus can cross the placental barrier, enter the fetus and affect the development of the fetus. There are about 50% of cases of the disease without typical clinical signs, so many pregnant women with rubella are not detected, causing many serious health consequences for the mother and the fetus.
Rubella infection during early pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth. Children born to these mothers have a high risk of congenital rubella syndrome with many serious defects such as: heart defects, deafness, cataracts, developmental delay... In addition, children can diabetes, jaundice, haemorrhage, vitreous bone, meningitis, pneumonia, low birth weight, premature birth... causing extremely serious effects on the race's health. Some children have died as a result of congenital rubella syndrome.
Congenital Rubella syndrome can be seen in 70-90% of babies born to mothers infected with Rubella during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Some birth defects caused by Rubella virus such as: Congenital heart defects, encephalitis, nystagmus, small eyeballs...

Currently, Rubella is a disease that has no specific treatment, so active vaccination with Rubella vaccine is the best measure to prevent the disease. Getting vaccinated before pregnancy is the best way to protect the health of the mother and the best preparation to welcome the baby.
Women during pregnancy should limit contact with patients with fever, rash and children with congenital rubella syndrome.
Pregnant women, especially pregnant women in the first few months, if experiencing fever or rash, should go to medical facilities for timely examination, testing, diagnosis and consultation.

Vaccination before pregnancy is extremely important, women need to find vaccination centers, medical facilities with a stable source of vaccines. Vinmec International General Hospital always implements thorough screening services before vaccination with Rubella vaccine, and at the same time monitors health after injection to ensure the safest and most effective. The maternity care package at Vinmec is scientifically designed with routine examination and testing schedules, pregnant mothers will be periodically monitored by doctors, early detection of risks to mother and fetus. for a timely response.