The burden of congenital rubella syndrome in the Philippines: results from a retrospective assessment

Authors

  • Anna Lena Lopez Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Peter Francis Raguindin Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Jose Jonas Del Rosario Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Ramon V. Najarro Department of Pediatrics, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City, Philippines
  • Eleanor Du Department of Pediatrics, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, Philippines
  • Josephine Aldaba Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Aida M. Salonga Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Andrea Kristina Monzon-Pajarillo Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Alvina Pauline Santiago Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines
  • Alan C. Ou World Health Organization Representative’s Office, Manila, Philippines; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, Atlanta, GA, USA
  • Maria Joyce Ducusin Department of Health, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2017.8.1.006

Abstract

Introduction: In line with the regional aim of eliminating rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), the Philippines introduced rubella-containing vaccines (RCV) in the national routine immunization program in 2010. We attempted to estimate the burden of CRS in the country prior to nationwide programmatic use.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review in four tertiary hospitals. Children born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014 identified as possible CRS cases based on the presence of one or more potential manifestations of CRS documented in hospital or clinic charts were reviewed.  Laboratory-confirmed cases meeting the clinical case definition of CRS were confirmed CRS cases.  Cases that met the clinical case definition of CRS but without laboratory confirmation were considered as probable CRS cases.

Results: We identified 18 confirmed and 201 probable cases in this review. Depending on the hospital, the estimated incidence of CRS ranged from 30 to 233 cases per 100,000 live births. The estimated national burden of CRS was 20-31 cases per 100,000 annually.

Discussion: This is the first attempt to assess the national CRS burden.  Prospective surveillance for CRS and further strengthening of the ongoing measles-rubella surveillance are necessary to establish accurate estimates of the burden of CRS and the impact of programmatic RCV use in the future. 

Author Biographies

Anna Lena Lopez, Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

Director, Institute of Child Health and Human Development Research Associate Professor  

Peter Francis Raguindin, Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

University Researcher, Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Jose Jonas Del Rosario, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

Head, Section of Pediatric Cardiology

Ramon V. Najarro, Department of Pediatrics, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City, Philippines

Chairman, Department of Pediatrics

Eleanor Du, Department of Pediatrics, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, Philippines

Head, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics

Josephine Aldaba, Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

University Researcher, Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Aida M. Salonga, Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

Past Director, Institute of Child Health and Human Development

 

Andrea Kristina Monzon-Pajarillo, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology

Alvina Pauline Santiago, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippines

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology

Alan C. Ou, World Health Organization Representative’s Office, Manila, Philippines; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, Atlanta, GA, USA

Medical Officer, Center for Global Health, Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Maria Joyce Ducusin, Department of Health, Philippines

OIC-Director III Women, Men & Children Health & Development Division  Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Department of Health

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Published

13-06-2017

How to Cite

1.
Lopez AL, Raguindin PF, Del Rosario JJ, Najarro RV, Du E, Aldaba J, Salonga AM, Monzon-Pajarillo AK, Santiago AP, Ou AC, Ducusin MJ. The burden of congenital rubella syndrome in the Philippines: results from a retrospective assessment. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2017 Jun. 13 [cited 2024 Nov. 21];8(2). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/528

Issue

Section

Original Research