Purpose. Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a global cause of preventable hearing impairment, blindness, and intellectual\nimpairment. The present study sought to identify ocular and auditory manifestations of CRS in school-aged children in Mbingo,\nCameroon. Design. Cross sectional study. Subjects. Students at two schools, one for children with hearing impairment, were\nscreened for cataract, congenital glaucoma, and pigmentary retinopathy. Methods. Students underwent seven-field digital fundus\nphotography through a dilated pupil using a Topcon NW200 nonmydriatic camera. Images were assessed by retina specialists in\nCanada via teleophthalmology. Clinical evidence was integrated to form case definitions for CRS based on Center for Disease\nControl and Prevention guidelines. Serological evidence of rubella infection was obtained using standardized IgG antibody titers.\nMain Outcome Measure. Number of probable and suspicious cases of CRS. Results. Between September 2009 and May 2010, 320\nstudents participated. There were 28 (10.2%) probable cases, 104 (37.8%) suspects, and 143 (52.0%) unaffected. Rubella IgG serology\nwas positive in 79 (48.7%) of children with hearing impairment and 11 (7.4%) of children with normal hearing. Conclusions. The\npresent study identified 28 probable cases of CRS. Furthermore, 92.6% of students with normal hearing did not possess rubella IgG\nantibodies making future cases of CRS likely without intervention.
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