Advances in German Measles

Abstract

A decade ago, the diagnosis of rubella seemed simple ; but in more recent years the development of facile methods for tissue culture of viruses has upset many previous held conceptions in our knowledge of viral diseases. One unexpected new finding has been the disclosure that members of the ECHO, Coxsackie, and Adenovirus groups of viruses can produce a rash which closely simulates that of rubella. After this became accepted and known, it was only the rash (if you will forgive the pun) physician who will now diagnose rubella with complete con fidence in the absence of an epidemic.

The isolation of rubella virus itself (as discussed in CLINICAL PEDI ATRICS, Aug. 1963) seems to offer an avenue out of this diagnostic con fusion. With the aid of a Virologic Laboratory, a group of Physicians in London have been studying true rubella and its complications. They offer accurate clinical criteria of diagnosis, and demonstrate the ease of laboratory confirmation. Research in rubella has especial importance with respect to the "rubella syndrome" following intra-uterine infec tion, and with respect to the diagnosis of neurologic complications which may be severe and pathogenetically puzzling.