Rubella—high Incidence of Defects in Children Considered Normal at Birth

Only 10 of 35 children with congenital rubella anomalies had their defects detected at birth or in the early weeks of life. The difference between these 10 children and 25 whose defects were not detected early lay in the distribution of defects. The 10 children who were detected early had cardiovascular lesions, neonatal distress or thrombocytopenic purpura, while the other 25 tended to have auditory, ocular and central nervous system anomalies. Overall, the age of detection of first defect extended up to four years and further defects continued to be recognized up to the age of eight years. The need for prolonged careful follow up for both the apparently normal and the abnormal child is illustrated.