Delayed Manifestations of Congenital Rubella

Abstract

As children born with congenital rubella syndrome during the 1960s reach young adulthood, professionals are seeing additional manifestations of the syndrome. Manifestations include changes in hearing status, ocular pathology (i.e., glaucoma, cataracts), vascular problems, and endocrine disorders (i.e., diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease). Several possibilities have been suggested for the delayed appearance of these further manifestations. The virus's ability to establish persistent infections is suggested, as is the possibility of an autoimmune response to the virus. In view of the fact that delayed manifestations of congenital rubella syndrome have been discovered, the necessity for medical follow-through is apparent. Medical follow-through is required not only for the continuation of informative research, but to safeguard the potential development of every individual with this syndrome.