Rubella an Human Life
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
RUBELLA AND HUMAN LIFE
AN ASSIGNMENT PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE COURSE PSY 353
(ABNORMAL/CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
BY
ATUCHUKWU, OBINNA W.
2008/162077
LECTURER: DR. E. ONYEIZUGBO
JUNE, 2011
INTRODUCTION
Rubella is a condition that is similar to measles. Symptoms include a rash, mild fever, and swollen lymph glands. Rubella can be transmitted through coughing or sneezing, or by touching an infected surface and then touching the nose or mouth. Most people recover without any serious complications; however, the disease can have a serious effect on developing fetuses.
In adults and children, rubella is usually a mild disease with infrequent complications. For pregnant women, the disease can cause serious birth defects (known as Congenital Rubella syndrom), including: * Deafness * Cataracts * Heart defects * Mental retardation * Liver and spleen damage.
There is at least a 20 percent chance of damage to the fetus if a woman is infected with rubella early in her pregnancy.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Rubella is a mild viral illness that lasts for about three days. However, when the disease occurs in pregnant women, it can pose a serious threat to the developing fetus. Rubella is also known as German measles or three-day measles. However, it has nothing to do with Germany; it comes from the Latin word "germanus," meaning "similar," since rubella and measles share similar symptoms.
CAUSES OF RUBELLA
The cause of Rubella is an infection with a specific virus. This is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus from the family Togaviridae and the genus Rubivirus.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Rubella virus resides in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The infected mucus can land in other people 's noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
RUBELLA AND HUMAN LIFE
AN ASSIGNMENT PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE COURSE PSY 353
(ABNORMAL/CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY)
BY
ATUCHUKWU, OBINNA W.
2008/162077
LECTURER: DR. E. ONYEIZUGBO
JUNE, 2011
INTRODUCTION
Rubella is a condition that is similar to measles. Symptoms include a rash, mild fever, and swollen lymph glands. Rubella can be transmitted through coughing or sneezing, or by touching an infected surface and then touching the nose or mouth. Most people recover without any serious complications; however, the disease can have a serious effect on developing fetuses.
In adults and children, rubella is usually a mild disease with infrequent complications. For pregnant women, the disease can cause serious birth defects (known as Congenital Rubella syndrom), including: * Deafness * Cataracts * Heart defects * Mental retardation * Liver and spleen damage.
There is at least a 20 percent chance of damage to the fetus if a woman is infected with rubella early in her pregnancy.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Rubella is a mild viral illness that lasts for about three days. However, when the disease occurs in pregnant women, it can pose a serious threat to the developing fetus. Rubella is also known as German measles or three-day measles. However, it has nothing to do with Germany; it comes from the Latin word "germanus," meaning "similar," since rubella and measles share similar symptoms.
CAUSES OF RUBELLA
The cause of Rubella is an infection with a specific virus. This is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus from the family Togaviridae and the genus Rubivirus.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Rubella virus resides in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The infected mucus can land in other people 's noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in
References: Cooper, L.Z.(1975). Congenital Rubella in the United States. In: Krugman, S.G, A(eds), Symposium on Infections of the Fetus and Newborn Infants. New York: Alan R. Liss Inc. De Santis M, Cavaliere A.F and Straface G.(2006). Rubella Infection in Pregnancy. Reprod. Toxicol.21(4): 390-8. Freij B.J and South M.A(1988). Maternal Rubella and the Congenital Rubella Syndrome. Clin Perinatol 15(2):247-57. Henshaw, J.A, Dudgeon,J.A and Marshall,W.C.(1985). Viral Diseases of the Fetus and newborn. Philadelphia: W.B. Sanders Co.