Congenital rubella syndrome: Dental manifestations and management in a 5 year old child

Abstract

Congenital Rubella Syndrome is a rare disorder comprised of a constellation of physical abnormalities that develop in infants as a result of maternal infection and subsequent fetal infection with rubella virus. The congenital lesions involve vital organs such as heart, eye, ear, brain and endocrine system and less frequently, teeth. The severity of systemic involvement depends on the stage of gestation at which maternal rubella infection occurs. With the implementation of immunization programs worldwide, its incidence has been dramatically reduced during the past half century. This article provides an insight into the prolonged effect of the virus on ameloblasts by highlighting the presence of hypoplastic enamel in primary teeth and erupting permanent teeth in a female child diagnosed with congenital rubella syndrome.