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Definition

congenital rubella syndrome

ABBR: CRS

Infection of the fetus early in a pregnancy, caused by transplacental transmission of the rubella virus and leading to a wide range of problems including spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or major birth defects of the heart, eyes, or central nervous system, including deafness. Women who become pregnant and have not received rubella immunization should be advised of the risk of fetal development of CRS. For unimmunized women who develop rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy, the risk of CRS may be as high as 85%. The risk decreases sharply after the eighth week of pregnancy and is absent after the 20th week of gestation. Fetal infection can be determined by serial studies of the immunoglobulin gamma M and immunoglobulin gamma G rubella antibodies. Prevention of CRS consists of active immunization of all children and of women of childbearing age.


Immunization with live rubella virus is contraindicated during pregnancy. It is recommended that women avoid pregnancy during the 3-month period after immunization. Infants with CRS are considered to be contagious. Only health care workers known to be immune to rubella (seropositive) should be permitted to care for infants with CRS.