After my friend had her ultrasound test, in her first trimester the doctor told her that her baby’s heartbeat has stopped. The doctor advised her to take a number of tests and the result showed that she was positive for Rubella virus. For her the time had stopped, she was devastated with the loss of her child as she had never heard about this virus before from anybody neither she had seen such case happen to anyone she knew.

Since then, my friend and I dug up some facts related to Rubella, asked our doctor and inquired in detail – what it is and how it impacts women, especially pregnant women like my friend.

So have you ever heard about viral infection named RUBELLA? This viral infection when contracted in early pregnancy may lead to miscarriage or birth defects in the infant called CONGENITAL RUBELLA SYNDROME (CRS). Serious manifestations of CRS include inflammation of brain and meninges, enlargement of spleen and liver, low count of blood platelets. According to WHO, Worldwide, an estimated 110,000 babies are born with CRS every year.

The risks of baby developing congenital rubella syndrome are greatest in the first 16 weeks of the pregnancy.

Ladies, it is advisable to check for the presence of rubella antibodies before one conceives. This incident also stressed upon the need of pre-conception counseling among couples. There is a strong necessity for each couple to have awareness and right guidance to get tested for various symptoms, pathogens and health parameters before they plan to have a baby.

Well, there is no specific treatment of Rubella, but the good news is that Rubella can be prevented through vaccination. Since occurrences of Rubella are rare these days, so a number of adults are not vaccinated for it and hence are not immune which makes Vaccination against Rubella even more important. The vaccine is now a part of MMR vaccine. After vaccination, for next 3 months, pregnancy should be avoided. A single dose of vaccination gives 95% immunity to Rubella.

Ladies please don’t waste time if you are planning for baby or if you are pregnant do consult your doctor and get yourself tested after all it’s about your baby, your family and your happy world.