Rubella in pregnancy can cause which of the following congenital outcomes?

• A. Microcephaly
• B. Congenital cataract, heart defects, and hearing impairment
• C. Neural tube defects
• D. Bleeding disorders

Answer: (B)

Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause congenital rubella syndrome, especially when it occurs in early gestation. The virus interferes with the fetus’s development of the eyes, ears, and heart, leading to the characteristic trio of cataracts, sensorineural hearing impairment, and congenital heart defects such as a patent ductus arteriosus. This combination best represents the congenital outcomes associated with rubella. Other findings like microcephaly or neural tube defects point to different etiologies, and bleeding disorders are not typical features of rubella-related congenital disease.