A Case of Subclinical Rubella Infection During Pregnancy

Abstract

Japan is one of the few countries with no eradication of rubella infection. We report here a case of subclinical infection of rubella during the first trimester of the pregnancy. A 21-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 0, refereed to our hospital due to high-risk consultation for fetal growth restriction at 30 weeks of gestation. Her pregnancy had progressed uneventfully during the first trimester of the pregnancy. At 34 weeks of gestation, she received cesarean section and gave birth to a male baby of 1,300 g. In the neonate, pancytopenia and cataract due to viral infection were recognized. The specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody against rubella virus was high (8.01) and the polymerase chain reaction using urine revealed deoxyribonucleic acid of rubella virus. It may be difficult to diagnose all cases of rubella infection in adults with clinical symptoms and/or antibody testing. Therefore, eliminating rubella infection with vaccine is one of urgent issues in Japan.




Clin Infect Immun. 2020;5(2):39-40
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cii98