Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can occur in a developing fetus of a pregnant woman who has contracted rubella during her first trimester. Problems rarely occur when rubella is contracted by the mother after 20 weeks of gestation. It was 1941 discoverd by Australian Norman McAllister Gregg (1892-1966). As an allusion to his name, the murderer in The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side is named Marina Gregg.

CRS can result in serious birth defects such as:

• malformations of the heart (especially patent ductus arteriosus), eyes or brain
• deafness
• spleen, liver or bone marrow problems (some of which may disappear shortly after birth)
• mental retardation
• eye defects
• low birth weight
• thrombocytopenic purpura
• hepatomegaly

Children who have been exposed to rubella in the womb should also be watched closely as they age for any indication of the following:

• developmental delay
• growth retardation
• learning disabilities
• diabetes
• glaucoma

External links

• NIH/Medline
• eMedicine
• DeafBlind.com
• Helen Keller National Center

Congenital disorders

Rötelnembryofetohopathie