Journals / Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care / 2026 / Cilt: 20 Sayı: 3

Maternal Rubella Positivity: Two Cases Seen in Quick Interval in Primary Care

Maternal Rubella Pozitifliği: Birinci Basamakta Kısa Aralıkla Görülen İki Olgu

Saliha Barutçu(ÇUKUROVA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, AİLE HEKİMLİĞİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-6951-5999
Sevgi Özcan(ÇUKUROVA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, AİLE HEKİMLİĞİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-4601-5032
Pages
340–344
Publication Date
2026-09-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: It is recommended that primary care health professionals motivate women of childbearing age to undergo questioning and complete any missing vaccinations, request serological tests during initial pregnancy checkups for early diagnosis, but alleviate the anxieties of pregnant women by anticipating that not every IgM positivity result may result in termination of pregnancy, as in our case, inform them about the need for further testing, and ensure the coordination of care and monitoring of the process for both the expectant mother and the fetus.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: Despite a global action plan aimed at eradicating rubella infection and high seropositivity rates, the persistence of rubella susceptibility in some women of childbearing age leads to an increased risk of congenital rubella syndrome.
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Key Findings & Data:This case report discusses rubella IgM positivity in two pregnant women detected one week apart in primary care, along with a review of the literature, aiming to highlight the importance of pre-pregnancy screening and immunization, and early diagnosis and appropriate management during pregnancy.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: It is recommended that primary care health professionals motivate women of childbearing age to undergo questioning and complete any missing vaccinations, request serological tests during initial pregnancy checkups for early diagnosis, but alleviate the anxieties of pregnant women by anticipating that not every IgM positivity result may result in termination of pregnancy, as in our case, inform them about the need for further testing, and ensure the coordination of care and monitoring of the process for both the expectant mother and the fetus.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:aile hekimliği · gebelik · kızamıkçık

Abstract

Purpose: Despite a global action plan aimed at eradicating rubella infection and high seropositivity rates, the persistence of rubella susceptibility in some women of childbearing age leads to an increased risk of congenital rubella syndrome. This case report discusses rubella IgM positivity in two pregnant women detected one week apart in primary care, along with a review of the literature, aiming to highlight the importance of pre-pregnancy screening and immunization, and early diagnosis and appropriate management during pregnancy. Case Report: The first case, unaware of her pregnancy, presented with high fever and a mild rash. Serological tests revealed elevated rubella IgM levels, and the pregnancy was terminated due to an accompanying fetal anomaly. The second case was asymptomatic. Routine screening revealed rubella IgM positivity due to a history of miscarriage in previous pregnancies. She was placed under observation after further evaluation. Conclusion: It is recommended that primary care health professionals motivate women of childbearing age to undergo questioning and complete any missing vaccinations, request serological tests during initial pregnancy checkups for early diagnosis, but alleviate the anxieties of pregnant women by anticipating that not every IgM positivity result may result in termination of pregnancy, as in our case, inform them about the need for further testing, and ensure the coordination of care and monitoring of the process for both the expectant mother and the fetus.

Özet

Amaç: Rubella enfeksiyonunun ortadan kaldırılmasını hedefleyen küresel eylem planına ve yüksek seropozitivite oranlarına rağmen doğurganlık çağındaki bazı kadınlarda rubella duyarlılığının devam etmesi artan konjenital rubella sendromu riskini de beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu olgu sunumunda, birinci basamakta bir hafta arayla saptanan iki gebedeki rubella IgM pozitifliği literatür eşliğinde tartışılarak gebelik öncesi taramanın ve bağışıklamanın, gebelikte ise erken tanının ve uygun yönetimin önemine dikkat çekilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Olgu: Gebe olduğunu bilmeyen birinci olgu, yüksek ateş, hafif döküntü ile başvurmuş serolojik testlerde rubella IgM düzeyleri yüksek saptanmış ve eşlik eden fetal anomali nedeniyle gebeliği sonlandırılmıştır. İkinci olgu ise asemptomatik olup önceki gebeliklerinde düşük öyküsü olduğu için yapılan rutin taramalarda rubella IgM pozitifliği saptanmış, ileri değerlendirmeler sonrası takibe alınmıştır. Sonuç: Birinci basamak sağlık çalışanlarının doğurgan çağdaki kadınları sorgulaması ve eksikse aşılarının tamamlanması konusunda motive etmeleri, erken tanı için ilk gebelik izlemlerinde serolojik testleri istemeleri, ancak olgumuzda olduğu gibi her IgM pozitifliğinin gebelik tahliyesi ile sonuçlanmayabileceği öngörüsüyle gebelerin kaygılarını gidermeleri, ileri testlerin yapılması gerektiği konusunda bilgilendirilmeleri, bakımın koordinasyonunu ve sürecin hem anne adayı hem de fetüs açısından takibini sağlamaları önerilebilir.

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Cite This Article

Barutçu, S., Özcan, S. (2026). Maternal Rubella Positivity: Two Cases Seen in Quick Interval in Primary Care. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Cilt: 20 Sayı: 3, 340–344. https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.1868235

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