INCIDENCE OF RUBELLA IN PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH CONGENITAL OCULAR DEFECTS

Abstract

Objectives: To find out the incidence of rubella in children with congenital ocular defects. Design of Study: Co relational, quantitative &
prospective study. Settings: Department of Ophthalmology, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad in collaboration with Departments of Pediatrics &
obstetrics Period: June 1999 to July 2001. Materials & Methods: Total 100 children of five year or lesser age who presented or referred
with some ocular problems of congenital origin were studied. The data was collected on special proforma. The relevant investigations were
carried out and the correlation between rubella and ocular / systemic defects of congenital origin were studied. Results: The incidence of
Congenital Rubella in children with congenital ocular defect was 16% while incidence of Rubella in various individual congenital ocular defect
was Cataract 19.1%(13in 68), Glaucoma 11.5%(6 in 52), Retinopathy 42.3% (11 in 26), Microphthalmia 25% (4 in 16),Corneal Haze 11.3%
(5 in 44), Microcornea 17.14% (6 in 35), Buphthalmos 8.82% (3 in 34), Corneal Scarring 10.52% (4 in 38), Squint 16.6% (4 in 24) and
Keratoconus 100% (2 in 2). The associated systemic lesions in the patients of Congenital Rubella Syndrome included CNS lesions 28.75%,
Cardiovascular abnormalities 25% and Biliary tract abnormalities 6.2% (one patient). Conclusion: The Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS),
a preventable condition, presents with potentially blinding & visually handicapping problems and its incidence in children with congenital
ocular defects in Pakistan is still very high i.e. 16% therefore responsible for a considerable visual morbidity in Pakistan whereas in most
of developed countries, it has been controlled by rubella vaccination of mothers in routine.