The rubella syndrome

Summary 1. A retrospective survey of 20 children with the rubella syndrome was conducted in an institution for mentally retarded children. Rubella infection was acquired during the first trimester of pregnancy. 2. Among the 20 children, a high incidence of prematurity was observed. The average birth weight was low, even in fullterm infants. 3. Among the 20 children, cataracts were observed in 15, deafness in 11, congenital heart disease in 13, microcephaly in 10 and mental retardation in 20. 4. Although 69 anomalies were observed in the 20 children by 5 years of age only 17 anomalies were detected at birth.