Rubella, Congenital Syndrome (CRS)
1990 Case Definition

Clinical Description

An illness of newborns resulting from rubella infection in utero and characterized by symptoms from the following categories:

1. Cataracts/congenital glaucoma, congenital heart disease, loss of hearing, pigmentary retinopathy
2. Associated symptoms may be: purpura, splenomegaly, jaundice, microcephaly, mental retardation, meningoencephalitis, radiolucent bone disease

Clinical Criteria

Presence of any defects or laboratory data consistent with congenital rubella infection (as reported by a health professional)

Laboratory Criteria For Diagnosis

• Isolation of rubella virus, OR
• Demonstration of rubella-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody, OR
• An infant's rubella antibody level that persists above and beyond that expected from passive transfer of maternal antibody (i.e., rubella HI titer that does not drop at the expected rate of a twofold dilution per month)

Possible

A case with some compatible clinical findings but not meeting the criteria for a compatible case

Compatible

A case that is not laboratory confirmed and that has any two complications listed in (1) above, or one complication from (1) and one from (2)

Confirmed

A clinically compatible case that is laboratory confirmed

• Rubella, Congenital Syndrome (CRS) | 2010 Case Definition
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• Rubella, Congenital Syndrome (CRS) | 1999 Case Definition
• Rubella, Congenital Syndrome (CRS) | 1996 Case Definition