Smallpox is a serious disease that threatens both pregnant women and the fetus, especially in the first trimester. It is especially dangerous for those who did not suffer from it in their childhood or were not vaccinated. Infection with the pox virus carries the risk of serious diseases for the fetus, sometimes up to death. What are the risks of smallpox in pregnancy? What are the complications?
Smallpox is a virus of the genus Herpes, it can be found in various tissues of the body and may be dormant. When immunity decreases, then it is activated, and such a state is certainly pregnancy. If you have had smallpox in childhood, there is no need to worry, both she and the fetus are safe. If, on the other hand, there is a situation that neither the woman has suffered from smallpox, nor has she been vaccinated, infection with the virus can be dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. Infection with the virus occurs after direct contact with an infected person, even if we are with them in the same room. The first symptoms do not appear until after
A few days after infection. If you have trouble breathing, the rash should be seen to a doctor immediately for help. Chicken pox in pregnancy carries many complications for both the mother and the fetus and they are very dangerous. Treatment of smallpox in pregnancy is very difficult.
Smallpox in pregnancy complications for the baby
The chickenpox virus in pregnancy causes many complications for both mother and baby. A woman may be at risk of developing pneumonia, treatment is carried out at home. Hospitalization is required if symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, vaginal bleeding, severe skin rash, breathing problems and severe headaches appear.
Smallpox in pregnancy is very dangerous for the fetus and causes many complications. Congenital pox syndrome occurs in approximately 6% of newborns when the fetus is infected by the placenta in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is characterized by symptoms such as:
- microcephaly,
- underdevelopment of arms,
- brain atrophy,
- little eyes,
- congenital cataract,
- iritis,
- underdevelopment of the cerebellum,
- hydrocephalus,
- brain calcification,
- skin defects,
- skin changes,
- intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus,
- optic nerve atrophy
- inhibition of sensorimotor development,
- limb underdevelopment,
- dysfunction of the anal sphincter and bladder sphincter.
In addition to chickenpox syndrome, a newborn may develop infantile shingles, which develops in early childhood if infected with the chickenpox virus in pregnancy after the twentieth week.
Newborns can also suffer from neonatal chickenpox if they became infected with chickenpox in pregnancy just before delivery. The mother is then unable to produce antibodies that will give the baby immunity. Smallpox infection during pregnancy is associated with a high mortality rate among newborns.
Smallpox in pregnancy – treatment
Treatment of chickenpox in pregnancy depends on when it was infected, ie what week of pregnancy. If the infection is reached by the 20th week of pregnancy, the risk of congenital varicella syndrome is 1,5%. Immunoglobulin is not administered. If the infection occurs 30-5 days before delivery, the newborn is given immunoglobulin, which is supposed to act against chickenpox – shingles. If the infection occurred just before, i.e. 4 days before to 2 days after delivery, the mother is given immunoglobulin against chickenpox, herpes zoster, and immediately after delivery to the newborn. Without immunoglobulin administration after delivery, 30 percent of newborns die.