Brief Report-Role of intrauterine Rubella infection in the causation of congenital deafness

Background : Rubella is a contagious viral infection associated with rash. 10-15% of women are susceptible to this infection in their childbearing years and the disease is usually transmitted to the developing fetus causing abortion or stillbirth or congenital Rubella syndrome (CRS). Sensorineural hearing loss is one of the most common abnormalities associated with CRS.
Aims : The study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Rubella induced congenital deafness in south India.
Materials and Methods :The present study is carried out on 1076 hearing impaired children below 14 years of age to determine etiological factors for congenital hearing impairment. Various audiometric tests such as PTA, OAE and BERA were carried out to know the type and degree of hearing impairment. Development histories including the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal histories were collected using a standard questionnaire.
Results :The results indicated very less percentage (1.57%) of cases with the history of maternal Rubella infection indicating a significant reduction of Rubella-induced deafness in the developing countries.
Conclusions : The main reason behind the low percentage of children with rubella- induced hearing impairment may be due to appropriate immunization of mothers to the rubella infection during their child bearing years. The increasing awareness in the developing countries of this infection and its consequences is another important reason behind the low percentage of the affected population.

Keywords
Congenital, hearing impairment, Rubella, Rubella syndrome, sensorineural