A woman who is nonimmune to rubella may become infected by the virus during pregnancy, and the virus can then infect the fetus. If the infection occurs in the first trimester then it can result in serious consequences.
Gestational consequences:
(1) fetal death with abortion.
(2) premature delivery
General consequences:
(1) growth retardation
(2) hepatosplenomegaly
(3) lymphadenopathy
(4) hepatitis
(5) cardiac malformations (patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis)
(6) thrombocytopenia
(7) cryptorchidism in males
(8) pneumonitis
(9) predilection to diabetes mellitus
Neurologic consequences:
(1) microcephaly
(2) spastic diplegia
(3) mental retardation and/or behavioral disorders
(4) deafness
(5) central language disorder
(6) large anterior fontanelle
Ophthalmologic consequences:
(1) cataracts
(2) micro-ophthalmia
(3) retinopathy
(4) myopia
(5) glaucoma
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