AMUNTAI, S Kalimantan: A pediatrician at Pambalah Batung Amuntai Hospital, North Hulu Sungai (HSU), South Kalimantan, encountered pediatric patients with congenital deformities similar to those of rubella, AntaranewsKalsel reported.
Dr. Islamiyah Dewi Yuliantin SpA here on Thursday said that for four months on duty in Amuntai she found around three pediatric patients who had congenital abnormalities.
“I found cases in children, such as congenital heart disease, developmental delays, but there were no symptoms of rubella. To ensure children suffering from rubella need further examination,” said Dewi.
To screen towards Congenital Rubella Syndrome there are criteria, she said, so she could not confirm that the child patient she met at Pambalah Batung Hospital suffered from rubella.
Congenital defects such as heart abnormalities, brain tissue damage, hearing loss to congenital cataracts are the effects of rubella disease.
Dewi said rubella immunization was given to children because rubella virus generally affects children. Children affected by rubella will transmit it to women of childbearing age and pregnant women result in congenital defects in the fetus or baby.
Rubella virus transmission can occur through the respiratory tract and skin contact between children and pregnant women or women of childbearing age. For the child rubella virus is recognized not too dangerous, because the symptoms caused such as fever can disappear by itself.
But in Indonesia, she said, rubella 1: 10,000 residents or one in 10 thousand children are likely to have rubella.
Measles and Rubella Immunization Program, said Dewi, is a central government program as an introduction (introduction) to the community.
“Rubella immunization is important to prevent congenital defects in babies,” she said.
While the danger of measles can cause complications such as diarrhea, pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), blindness, malnutrition, and death.
“For those who have measles immunization, if there is no serious illness, severe complications rarely arise,” she explained.