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Infectious diseases in pregnancy are common in pregnant women, but their significance is difficult to assess.
Infectious diseases during pregnancy
Infections in pregnancy may, on the one hand, be mild for the mother and have no consequences for the fetus, and, on the other hand, may cause birth defects or intrauterine death, as well as premature delivery.
Infectious diseases in the mother can also have serious consequences, sometimes even with the risk of death. Most infectious diseases are caused by viruseswhich pass through the placenta to the fetus. The effect of these microorganisms on the fetus depends on their virulence, the mother’s defenses and the period of pregnancy.
Intrauterine infections in children can be very difficult to diagnose, and with delayed diagnosis, and thus treatment, can sometimes have unpleasant consequences. It is not uncommon for a newborn to have no or reduced suckling reflex, slight vomiting or flatulence in a newborn, but also frequent and unjustified crying of a baby and a lack of fever in the first days after birth may be an early sign of infection.
Types of infectious diseases in pregnancy
1. Infection influenza virus poses a risk to both the mother and the child, as in very early pregnancy the fetus can be severely damaged, and in more advanced stages of pregnancy, due to a change in the immune system of the woman and breathing difficulties, there is a risk of pneumonia in mother. Preventive vaccinations should be administered before a planned pregnancy, but even during pregnancy, especially in women at risk of infection, it can be used regardless of the period of pregnancy.
2. Infection human papillomavirus it is one of the most common viral infections diagnosed in pregnant women. The main danger for the mother is the forms that lead to the development of cervical cancer, but all such viruses can be dangerous for the baby. In case of disease symptoms during the termination of pregnancy, caesarean section should be considered.
3. Infection Chickenpox in pregnancy is relatively rarely observed due to the mother’s immunity, but its course may be severe and complicated for a pregnant woman. Infection in the run-up to birth can be dangerous for a baby, especially a premature baby. In the first trimester of pregnancy, passive immunization of the mother can be performed by administering serum (anti-Herpes Zoster immunoglobulin) in the case of immunosuppression and contact with a person suffering from chickenpox. This procedure is best performed within a short period (up to 72 hours) of contact, although there is no consensus as to whether such a procedure is effective.
4. CMV is another factor that is dangerous for a child because it can cause many developmental defects (eg loss of pattern or hearing, retardation of mental and motor development) or even death of the child. Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women is usually asymptomatic and the diagnosis of this disease in the fetus is difficult, but recently there are some options for the treatment of cytomegalovirus in pregnancy.
5. The rubella virus is toxic to the fetus, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, when various organs are formed. The risk of developing malformations in a baby during this period ranges from 10 to 50%, or even more in very early pregnancy. In the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the risk of fetal malformations is slightly lower, although the child may be born infected with rubella intrauterine.
It follows from the above considerations that rubella, experienced by a pregnant mother, carries a high risk of harm to the child, although it is often impossible to give an unambiguous answer. Preventive vaccination with weakened rubella viruses results in active immunity of the organism for a long, but difficult to define period of time. They can be used in women who are not pregnant and will avoid pregnancy for the next three months. important: vaccination against rubella is contraindicated in pregnancy.
6. Viral hepatitis. It should be remembered that, depending on the type of virus, up to 90 percent of children may be infected, hence their specialist treatment is absolutely recommended, considering the advisability of breastfeeding by the mother, and in the case of the B virus, immunization of the child immediately after delivery and in the first and sixth months. life.
7. Toxoplasmosis is a disease that is dangerous for the fetus and is caused by protozoa. Infection occurs through contact with encysted organisms in animal faeces or undercooked meat. If the mother survives toxoplasmosis before pregnancy, it protects the child from infection. The danger of getting sick in pregnancy is that the symptoms of the disease are atypical and are often confused with the common cold or flu, while protozoa cross the placenta and infect the baby, causing various disorders and severe malformations.
Note: Possible early diagnosis of the disease allows for the implementation of intensive treatment, thanks to which the child can be cured while still in the mother’s womb. Children up to the age of one should be under close supervision of specialist centers so that possible damage to various organs, especially eyesight and hearing, can be recognized and treated early.
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