Doctors have been urged to be aware of the dangers chickenpox can pose to pregnant women and their babies.
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) said that in most cases having chickenpox during pregnancy caused no lasting harm to mother and baby. But the journal pointed out that in up to 14% of infections in pregnant women there could be lung problems, with potentially fatal pneumonia in the most severe cases.
They also said that up to 1.4% of babies exposed to chickenpox in the first 28 weeks of pregnancy developed a potentially fatal condition called foetal varicella syndrome.
This causes problems such as skin loss and scarring, underdevelopment and weakness in the limbs and reduced birth weights.
Some babies who are exposed to chickenpox around the time of delivery go on to develop varicella infection.
If a woman has definitely had chickenpox she is immune to getting the infection again, as is her child through transferred antibodies.
DTB said that pregnant women who have not had chickenpox should avoid going near those with the infection and seek medical attention if they are exposed.
Prompt treatment with varicella-zoster immunoglobin (VZIG) can help prevent or reduce the severity of chickenpox and it can also be given to babies who may be at risk.
Mothers and babies can also be treated with the antiviral drug aciclovir to limit the impact of chickenpox infections.
Source
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) said that in most cases having chickenpox during pregnancy caused no lasting harm to mother and baby. But the journal pointed out that in up to 14% of infections in pregnant women there could be lung problems, with potentially fatal pneumonia in the most severe cases.
They also said that up to 1.4% of babies exposed to chickenpox in the first 28 weeks of pregnancy developed a potentially fatal condition called foetal varicella syndrome.
This causes problems such as skin loss and scarring, underdevelopment and weakness in the limbs and reduced birth weights.
Some babies who are exposed to chickenpox around the time of delivery go on to develop varicella infection.
If a woman has definitely had chickenpox she is immune to getting the infection again, as is her child through transferred antibodies.
DTB said that pregnant women who have not had chickenpox should avoid going near those with the infection and seek medical attention if they are exposed.
Prompt treatment with varicella-zoster immunoglobin (VZIG) can help prevent or reduce the severity of chickenpox and it can also be given to babies who may be at risk.
Mothers and babies can also be treated with the antiviral drug aciclovir to limit the impact of chickenpox infections.
Source