Congenital Rubella Syndrome in Lagos.

Abstract

Summary:  Seventeen cases of congenital rubella syndrome were found among 190 children with congenital heart disease attending the Paediatric Clinic, Lagos University Teaching Hospital. This finding has confirmed that congenital rubella syndrome not only exists in this part of the world, but that it also manifests in the same devastating manner as elsewhere. The incidence of 9 per cent among the study population is, however, higher than would be expected in view of the opportunity which the rubella virus, like poliovirus has, to infect and render immune a majority of the population in any thickly populated urban area well before the child bearing age is reached. It is suggested that in Nigeria as well as in other parts of Africa vaccination against rubella should be included in all routine vaccination programmes.