Chickenpox in expectant mothers: does it make sense to be afraid of complications? Chickenpox during pregnancy. Severe consequences of a childhood illness Treatment of chickenpox in pregnant women in the later stages

Pregnancy is an important event in the life of every woman. I want all illnesses and hardships to pass away. But it happens that someone from the family gets chickenpox.

Chickenpox is a childhood disease, but adults can also get chickenpox. The kid will quickly and painlessly endure the disease, earning immunity for life. But getting chickenpox during pregnancy can have serious consequences. Therefore, you should know for sure whether chickenpox is dangerous for pregnant women or not.

In this article you will learn:

When to be afraid of chickenpox

If you have the following symptoms, you can expect a red rash to appear:

Weakness appears, supplemented by severe headaches;
A sharp increase in body temperature is recorded;
7 days after the appearance of the first signs, the body is covered with pimples, characteristic of the disease, filled with liquid.

Due to weakened immunity, chickenpox is detected during pregnancy quite dangerous. The expectant mother is subject to severe intoxication. Headaches are not relieved by any previously saved medicines.

The disease is not safe either for the expectant mother or for the emerging child. Therefore, infection with chickenpox during pregnancy is a clear reason for the risk of complications and disastrous results in the form of a provoked miscarriage or the fixation of pathological developmental abnormalities in the newborn:

In case of infection in the first half of pregnancy, it is the most dangerous for the development of various serious complications and pathological development of the fetus;
The second half of the woman's interesting position - the possible danger to the mother and fetus is somewhat reduced;
Infection in the last stages does not carry the danger that is possible in the middle of the gestation period, but the woman in labor and the fully formed fetus (34-38 weeks) must constantly be under the control of medical workers. Chickenpox is a viral type disease, its causative agent is the 3rd type of herpes virus. In most cases, the disease affects children under the age of 7 years.
Infection occurs from an infected person by airborne droplets, through conversation or saliva. Upon contact with this infection, it is especially easy to become infected with chickenpox during pregnancy, because during the period of bearing a child, immunity decreases in the female body, which provokes various kinds of diseases.
When ingested, the herpes virus settles on the mucous membranes in the oral cavity and nasopharynx. The incubation period for the development of the disease is on average 1-3 weeks.

Thus, infection with chickenpox can negatively affect both the mother and the born baby. But the disease is not a reason to resort to abortion. The main thing is to detect the symptoms of the inflammatory process in time and seek treatment.

Consequences for the mother

There are no specific features of chickenpox in pregnant women. It is equally difficult for both men and women. In any case, the manifestation causes a number of complications.

It is difficult to predict which internal organ the chickenpox will affect in a pregnant woman. In some, it manifests itself in the form of chickenpox pneumonia. In other patients, a violation of the functioning of systems or pathological diseases of internal organs is recorded.

When a woman discovers pregnancy, contracting this infection does not imply rosy events. In the first 3 months (12 weeks), important internal organs develop in the fetus: the heart, brain, blood circulation is formed. A weakened immune system skips chickenpox, which can greatly affect not only the vital signs of a young mother, but also the development of an unborn child.

The following points are distinguished, why chickenpox is dangerous for pregnant women:

The development of the myocardium of the heart muscle;
Inflammatory processes with the organs of vision;
Pathological disorders in the normal state of the joints;
Inflammation of the appendix, as well as the negative development of pancreatic anomalies;
The occurrence of glomerunitis is a violation in the functioning of the kidneys.

In addition, the manifestation of atypical consequences is possible - impaired coordination of movements, as well as the manifestation of encephalitis - inflammatory processes in the brain. All emerging processes have a negative impact on the emerging internal organs of the child.

You can learn about the pathological development of the fetus at the 2nd screening by performing an ultrasound examination. If a developing child has abnormalities that are incompatible with life, the pregnant woman is offered an artificial abortion.

If infection occurs, at this point the fetus is securely protected by the placenta. Therefore, infection of the child occurs only in extreme cases, even if the mother is affected by a severe form of leakage. The risk of disease in the 3rd trimester increases several times.

A child can become infected just before childbirth, when the uterus opens and the water drains, as well as on the first day after birth. In this case, chickenpox is diagnosed as a congenital disease.

Consequences for the child

The development of a child depends entirely on the health of his mother. If infection has occurred, the main points are highlighted, why chickenpox is dangerous during pregnancy:

Fading pregnancy;
The death of a fully formed fetus immediately before labor;
Spontaneous rejection of the fetus from the body (miscarriage);
Violation of the integrity of the skin or the complete absence of skin;
Cataract or defective development of the eyeballs;
Abnormal changes in the symmetry of the fetus - atrophy on one side or hypotrophy of the arms and legs, extra phalanges of the fingers on the limbs;
Delay the formation of a child inside the fetus;
Violations in the structure of external tissues and internal organs affected by the herpes virus.

It all depends on the moment at which the infection occurred. If the expectant mother became infected with chickenpox before 20 weeks of gestation, then in this case, the child has a congenital chickenpox syndrome at birth. In this case, there is an incorrect functioning of the cerebral cortex, incoming convulsions, paralysis of the child, changes in the skin of the cicatricial type.

If infection with chickenpox occurs after 20 weeks, then first of all, an ultrasound scan is performed. The examination reveals possible deviations. To verify the accuracy of the anomalies, amniocentesis and cordocentesis are additionally prescribed. Such examinations are performed by sampling amniotic fluid and blood from the umbilical cord of the fetus. They allow you to determine not only genetic abnormalities, but also chromosomal.

The disease of the woman in labor a week before the birth threatens the baby at birth with the detection of encephalitis, respiratory diseases and pathological conditions of the liver. Therefore, it is very important for a pregnant woman to immediately consult a doctor when identifying possible symptoms of chickenpox. The immediate start of the treatment process can have a positive effect on the development of the fetus - the inflammatory process will not affect it.

How to protect yourself from chickenpox during pregnancy

If a pregnant woman had smallpox in childhood, she has nothing to worry about. Her body received lifelong immunity to chickenpox. She can communicate with an infected person, even in intimate settings. In most cases, the development of recurrent disease does not occur. In a situation where a woman in a position has not been exposed to an illness, it should be clarified whether chickenpox is dangerous for a pregnant woman during the period of bearing a child.

In order to prevent the disease, it is recommended to resort to preventive measures to influence the body:

Stop all contact with small children;
Do not visit places with a lot of people, especially hospitals;
Communication with people who have a rash on the skin or other manifestations of the disease is recommended to be limited;
If there are kids in the family or close circle who have not yet had the disease, they should be vaccinated against chickenpox.

If contact of an unprotected pregnant woman has occurred with an infected patient, the following actions should be taken:

Tell your doctor about the event in more detail;
Administer emergency vaccination within 96 hours of exposure;
Drugs should be administered intramuscularly and intravenously to block the growth of the virus;
If the gestational age exceeds 37 weeks, it is recommended to provoke labor or perform an operative delivery.

In any case, you should notify your doctor. The main thing is to take all measures that can contribute to the impossibility of contracting a dangerous disease.

Chickenpox vaccination

Preventive measures should be taken to protect against chickenpox. The latter are divided into arbitrary and special. It is better to conduct a survey of relatives to identify sick or not sick relatives, and most importantly, to find out if the pregnant woman herself had chickenpox in childhood.

There were no cases of re-infection. An emergency chickenpox vaccination is recommended. If contact was made with the affected person, then having chickenpox during pregnancy is dangerous not only for the woman, but also for the unborn child.

Therefore, vaccination should be carried out at the time of pregnancy planning. Fertilization is possible only 3 months after the administration of drugs.

Thus, it is highly undesirable to contract chickenpox during pregnancy. Otherwise, it is possible to identify negative consequences, as well as the death of both the mother and the child. Therefore, it is recommended that when the first signs are detected, treatment should be started immediately.

Pregnancy is a wonderful state that a woman remembers for a lifetime. But sometimes this unique time is overshadowed by completely unexpected diseases. Today we're going to talk about a "baby" infection that can sometimes come to you during pregnancy and make you worry. Chickenpox is a common infectious disease caused by the Varicella virus and spread by airborne droplets.

Most often, all people suffer from chickenpox (chickenpox) in childhood, in this case the disease proceeds relatively easily and there are only skin manifestations (pustular rashes) that disappear without leaving noticeable defects, and a mild intoxication syndrome (malaise, subfebrile temperature). This is the most favorable scenario for a woman, since immunity after chickenpox is lifelong and the risk of getting sick again is minimal and tends to zero.

Chickenpox during pregnancy is a fairly rare situation, about 7 cases per 10,000 pregnancies. However, even 1 case suspected of chickenpox within the walls of a maternity hospital or gynecological hospital is an absolute indication for closing a medical institution for unscheduled sanitation and limiting the admission of women in labor and pregnant women.

Features of chickenpox during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a state of a priori immunosuppressive. Suppression of immunity is necessary so that the mother's body does not reject the fetus, which is genetically independent, and therefore a foreign object. However, in the case of infectious diseases, a decrease in immunity predisposes to a more severe course of the disease and more frequent development of complications.

The main clinical manifestations of chickenpox are classic, there is also a rash with staged development, fever and weakness. However, approximately 15% of sick pregnant women develop viral pneumonia, which has a severe course, is accompanied by severe intoxication and creates certain difficulties in treatment, since not all drugs are approved for use during pregnancy.

If, in addition to the rash and symptoms of intoxication, shortness of breath, cough (dry or with scanty sputum), congestion and chest pain appear, then pneumonia should be suspected and immediately contact the infectious diseases hospital.

If the symptoms appeared on a day off, then you can’t wait until Monday, you need to call an ambulance or go to the emergency room of the infectious diseases hospital yourself. Never refuse hospitalization if it is offered to you. In case of hospitalization, try to notify your local obstetrician - gynecologist.

The risk of viral pneumonia increases with infection in the third trimester, and also if the pregnant woman smokes.

The effect of chickenpox on the fetus

1. When infected in the first trimester:
- the risk of spontaneous abortion and missed pregnancy increases;
- up to 1.5% of children are at risk of acquiring congenital varicella syndrome: deformity of the limbs, cicatricial defects on the skin, impaired formation of the organ of vision with subsequent visual impairment, up to blindness, anomalies in the development of the skull and brain, which entail lags in psychophysical development and convulsive syndrome .

2. In the second trimester, the risk of fetal death remains, especially if chickenpox is complicated (with pneumonia and prolonged fever). The syndrome of congenital chickenpox threatens much less, since the hematoplacental barrier is already well formed.

3. In the third trimester, the prognosis depends more on the duration of infection:
- at the beginning of the third trimester, chickenpox infection disappears with little or no consequences for the fetus. 5 days after infection, protective antibodies begin to be produced in the mother's body, which also penetrate the child.
- if you become infected about three weeks before giving birth, then the child may develop chickenpox immediately after birth, or in utero. however, all organs and systems are already formed, birth defects do not threaten him. But such children have a high risk of developing herpes zoster (shingles) at an early age.
- if infected 5 days before delivery and within 2 days after delivery, there is a high risk that the child will get sick, but he did not receive antibodies from the mother, and the baby's own immune system is still immature and unable to give an adequate immune response, therefore, without treatment, the situation can be dangerous.
If the mother has chickenpox in the last 5 days before giving birth, then the child needs to be isolated from the mother and fed with mixtures.
The issue of breastfeeding is decided individually, at the time of the disease, breastfeeding is excluded.

A dangerous complication of congenital chickenpox or infection in the first days after childbirth are herpes pneumonia and herpetic encephalitis. These are indications for treating a child in an intensive care unit or intensive care unit, as a high degree of disability and mortality is recorded.

Diagnosis of chickenpox during pregnancy

1. Characteristic symptoms in combination with anamnesis data make it possible to make a diagnosis of chickenpox with a very high probability.

2. X-ray of the lungs in case of suspected pneumonia is carried out as a last resort, and always, covering the stomach with a lead apron. The patient should be informed about the possible risks of both insufficient diagnosis and exposure to ionizing radiation. The patient has the right to refuse the study, then the treatment is prescribed empirically, that is, focusing on clinical manifestations and using a drug with the widest possible spectrum of action.

3. Ultrasound. Ultrasound diagnosis is the main method for detecting fetal malformations. Therefore, in such a special case, ultrasound should be performed on an expert-class machine. Such an opportunity is available in city and regional perinatal centers, medical genetic consultations and advisory centers.

4. Consultation of a geneticist. Consultation of such a narrow specialist as a geneticist is indicated when malformations are detected and a malformation is suspected according to ultrasound. The geneticist will be able to explain all the risks and the expected prognosis for the life and health of the child after childbirth, as well as recommend which specialists you need after childbirth. For example, defects of the facial skeleton are consulted by a pediatric maxillofacial surgeon, malformations of the limbs are consulted by an orthopedic traumatologist.

Treatment of chickenpox during pregnancy

1. Local treatment consists in the treatment of loose elements with an antiseptic solution (for example, brilliant green) and hygiene.

2. Antivirals are appointed only by an infectious disease specialist after a joint examination with an obstetrician-gynecologist. In pregnant women, according to indications, it is possible to use the drug acyclovir in tablets or intravenously (in a hospital).

3. Interferons. Interferon preparations (Viferon and others) can often be prescribed as an auxiliary immunomodulatory treatment, but you cannot prescribe them yourself, not all drugs are allowed during pregnancy.

Indications for abortion with chickenpox

According to Order No. 736 of December 03, 2007 "On approval of the list of medical indications for artificial termination of pregnancy", chickenpox during pregnancy is not an indication for abortion. The patient should be informed about the possible consequences and ways to prevent them, provided with highly qualified diagnostics. The mother-to-be always makes the final decision.

Childbirth and chickenpox

The type of delivery depends on the obstetric situation; chickenpox does not directly affect childbirth.

However, with the development of severe bilateral pneumonia and respiratory failure, with a threat to the life of the mother, a decision can be made to deliver by caesarean section. But such cases are extremely rare and the decision is made collectively.

Examination and treatment of the newborn

A neonatologist is necessarily invited to the birth, he is informed about the infectious history of the mother and the timing of infection. Examination of the newborn reveals external defects and signs of congenital chickenpox. According to indications, chest x-rays and ultrasound of internal organs are performed, brain functions are examined and narrow specialists (neurologist and others) are invited.

The treatment of a newborn is carried out depending on the severity of the clinical picture and the data of a laboratory blood test, immune sera (containing protective immunoglobulins against chickenpox), antiviral drugs (acyclovir) can be used.

Chickenpox vaccination

If the infection of the mother occurred immediately before childbirth, and the child does not have evidence of an active disease, then the chickenpox vaccine may be given to him.

Vaccination of pregnant women is contraindicated. But during breastfeeding, such a vaccination can be performed if there are appropriate indications.

Chickenpox prevention

1. Avoid contact with the source of infection. The source of infection is a person who has contracted chickenpox from the moment of infection (even if there are no rashes yet) until the moment when all the loose elements dry up and no new rashes are detected. You can also get chickenpox from a person who is sick with herpes zoster, as these are virally related diseases.

2. Prophylactic administration of an antiviral drug (acyclovir) after contact with a sick person

3. Prophylactic administration of specific immunoglobulin within 72 hours after contact with the sick person.

Is contact with a child/adult with chickenpox dangerous if the pregnant woman was ill in childhood?

If the patient reliably suffered chickenpox in childhood, then contact with sick chickenpox or herpes zoster is not dangerous for her and additional protective measures are not required.

But a patient who has a rash on the body is not always sick with chickenpox, many diseases occur with a common rash (rubella, scarlet fever, measles, yersiniosis and others). It is possible to say about safety only after an accurate diagnosis by an infectious disease doctor.

For the purpose of prevention, visits to kindergartens and other preschool institutions should be limited, if possible.

Herpes Zoster and pregnancy

Herpes Zoster or shingles is a manifestation of a dormant infection in the body after suffering chickenpox or shingles in the past. Relapse during pregnancy is possible in rare cases and does not pose a significant threat to the life and health of the mother and fetus. Primary infection with the Varicella Zoster virus with the development of herpes zoster is unlikely. But such a development of events is possible in patients with severe concomitant diseases (HIV infection, tuberculosis, severe anemia and other conditions that significantly affect immunity). Up to 26-27 weeks, the primary manifestation of herpes zoster is dangerous with the same consequences as chickenpox in the first and second trimesters.

The primary disease of herpes zoster in the third trimester has little or no effect on the fetus.

Treatment of Herpes Zoster during pregnancy is problematic due to the limited range of approved medications. If possible, local treatment should be dispensed with (ointment with acyclovir, ultraviolet irradiation of the affected areas), drugs based on paracetamol in a limited amount are used to reduce temperature and alleviate pain.

If you know that your older child has chickenpox in the kindergarten, or someone from the relatives has this infection in the family, then temporarily limit visits. It will take 3 - 4 weeks, and you will be able to communicate quite safely. If you suspect you have chickenpox, then do not delay contacting an infectious disease specialist, timely prescribed treatment will help to transfer the infection in a mild form and will not harm the baby. Look after yourself and be healthy!

There are many different diseases in the world that can adversely affect pregnancy. One such infection is chicken pox. Why is chickenpox dangerous during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, and what are the possible consequences? You will learn about this from our article.

Chicken pox is a widely known viral infection in the world, characterized by its high contagiousness. Chickenpox in pregnant women in the 3rd trimester is more dangerous for the fetus, and not for the mother. Note that the infection poses a threat to the fetus when infected only before childbirth, that is, at 7 months (at 28 weeks, at 29 weeks or at 30 weeks) and at 8 months (at 34 weeks or 35 weeks), the infection is not dangerous to the fetus, since the formed placenta around the "future child" plays the role of a "barrier" for various viruses and bacteria. At 9 months (at 38 weeks or 39 weeks), chickenpox can significantly affect the child, due to the possible development of congenital chickenpox in a newborn. In this case, infection can occur during childbirth or while the child is “in the tummy” of the mother. In general, the risk of infection of the child appears from the 36th week of pregnancy, that is, during the period of the possible onset of labor, when the fetus is already fully formed and ready to leave its “nine-month-old abode”.

It is worth noting that if a pregnant woman gets chickenpox immediately before childbirth (for example, 3-4 days before), the chance of developing chickenpox in a newborn is 20%. Of all cases of chickenpox in newborns, about 30% ended in the death of babies. If the infection of a pregnant woman occurred a week before childbirth, then the likelihood of developing congenital chickenpox in a child is lower, and the risk of death is virtually eliminated. Why is this happening? This is due to the work of the mother's immune system. If chickenpox struck a pregnant woman a few days before giving birth, the woman's body does not have time to develop and pass on to the child the necessary amount of antibodies to fight the infection. In a different set of circumstances, when the expectant mother fell ill a week or more before the birth, the woman's body manages to give an immune response to the virus, as well as transfer the developed antibodies to the fetus.

The fact is that the body of a newborn child is very weak and does not have an immune system. Consequently, chickenpox affects not only the skin and mucous membranes of the child. The infection strikes throughout the body at once, including the central nervous system, internal organs, brain, etc. This is characterized by a severe course of the disease and often - the development of various complications, such as varicella encephalitis, varicella pneumonia, CNS disorders, etc. Also, chickenpox in a newborn can take an atypical form, most often hemorrhagic. With this form of chickenpox, there is an extensive defeat of the entire body by the virus, which proceeds very intensively, which often ends in a fatal outcome for a newborn baby.

Despite such sad possible consequences, you should not be sad. To date, with the development of congenital chickenpox in newborns, the method of "passive immunization" is used, which makes it possible to reduce the possibility of a fatal outcome to zero.

The expectant mother during pregnancy should be vigilant, as she risks not only her health, but also the health of her unborn child. As we found out, chickenpox and late pregnancy, together, can have sad consequences. To reduce the risk of infection of a pregnant woman, certain restrictions are provided:

During pregnancy, it is not recommended to contact with children, since children can be carriers of viral infections, and given that chickenpox is contagious already during the incubation period, you will not be able to determine “by eye” whether the child is sick or not;
During pregnancy, it is not recommended to visit crowded places, since in such places the probability of infection is quite high (for example, schools, preschool educational institutions, offices, shopping malls, etc.);
During pregnancy, it is recommended to avoid contact with people who have obvious signs of illness (characteristic rashes on the face or hands, “colds” on the lips, etc.);

In addition to the above recommendations, it is worth donating blood for specific antibodies of the lgG and lgM classes. These antibodies appear in the blood at the time of chickenpox infection and, due to their presence, a stable immunity is formed against the causative agent of the infection - the Varicella zoster virus. If the expectant mother has previously had chickenpox, she will have lifelong immunity and will be able to pass on her antibodies to the fetus, therefore, the risk of chickenpox infection in the child in the womb is practically eliminated.

If a woman has not had chickenpox and does not have immunity, then it is worthwhile to carry out preventive vaccination against chickenpox. Vaccination is possible when planning a pregnancy; during pregnancy, the introduction of a live vaccine is contraindicated. Why get vaccinated against chickenpox? Live vaccines contain a live virus, but this virus is bred under special conditions and is weakened, therefore, the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine to a healthy person provokes an immune response and contributes to the development of immunity against the infectious agent. In other words, vaccination during pregnancy planning will protect a woman from contracting chickenpox during pregnancy.

If a pregnant woman in the third trimester had contact with the virus, then an emergency administration of immunoglobulin is provided. This procedure reduces the risk of infection, as well as weaken the course of the disease and reduce the effect of infection on the fetus. A prophylactic injection of immunoglobulin is made no later than 96 hours from the moment the expectant mother comes into contact with the virus.

How is windmill running at this time? It is worth noting that chickenpox in the third trimester of pregnancy is no different from chickenpox under normal conditions. In a pregnant woman, the disease can take both a mild form and a severe one. However, most often the infection occurs in a moderate or severe form.

It all starts with a sharp rise in temperature, which over time can reach 40 degrees. The accompanying symptoms of chickenpox, in addition to temperature, are:

Weakness and lethargy of the whole organism;
Pain in muscles and joints;
Arbitrary twitching of muscles and limbs, convulsions (observed at temperatures above 39 degrees);
Nausea, possible vomiting;
Cough, runny nose (not specific symptoms of infection). Their appearance is provoked by rashes on the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, which leads to increased secretion of mucus. If a dry cough occurs, it is recommended to inform the attending physician as soon as possible, as coughing can become a signal for the development of pneumonia against a viral infection;

From the moment the first symptoms of chickenpox appear, after 1-3 days, characteristic rashes appear in the head and face. The first elements of the rash resemble insect bites, but after a few hours (maximum within a day), the rash turns into papules (small reddish pimples with a clear liquid inside) and spreads throughout the body, as well as to the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat and nose. Note that rashes on the mucous membranes may not appear, depending on the level of infection of the body with a virus. Rashes on the body cause serious discomfort to the pregnant woman, as the rash constantly itches, and the resulting elements of the rash on the mucous membrane can be accompanied by pain.

Let us draw your attention to another feature of chickenpox - an undulating current. After the first wave of eruptions, there is a slight lull. It lasts no more than 2 days. At this time, the pregnant woman feels better, the temperature is subfebrile in nature, new elements of the rash do not appear. After a brief lull, a new wave of precipitation appears, and the temperature rises again. The cycle may repeat itself several times.

First of all, you should contact a qualified specialist. At the same time, it is undesirable to visit hospitals, but simply call a doctor at home. If the disease occurred at the 9th month of pregnancy, then the woman is likely to be hospitalized. In case of chickenpox a few days before birth, a small birth delay is provided, which reduces the risk of developing congenital chickenpox in a newborn baby. In this case, there are two scenarios for the development of events:

The child will be born absolutely healthy;
The baby will be born with chickenpox, but it will be mild;

If, for some reason, the birth delay is impossible, then the pregnant woman is treated with the use of immunoglobulins and antiherpetic drugs.

If the pregnant woman was infected at the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy, then the treatment is carried out, most often, at home and is symptomatic:

Abundant fluid intake and the inclusion of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet;
To treat the rash, antiseptic solutions are used ("brilliant green", "potassium permanganate", fukortsin, etc.);
Calamine lotion can be used to relieve itching. It is safe at any stage of pregnancy and has no side effects. The doctor may prescribe antihistamines, but these are best reserved for emergencies;
To combat the temperature, you can use paracetamol, but as we know, pills during pregnancy are not the best remedy. Therefore, it is worth considering folk remedies for relieving heat (rubbing with vodka, eating strawberries or cranberries, etc.) The temperature should be brought down after the mark of 38 degrees;

In custody

Chickenpox in pregnant women in the later stages poses a threat to the health of the baby, but this is not a reason to panic, since all this is treated. The main thing is to seek help from specialists in time. Do not be ill.

It used to be thought that if a person had chicken pox in childhood, he developed a strong lifelong immunity to the disease. Today there is a situation where people are re-infected due to mutations in the formula of the virus, which is why chickenpox is increasingly common during pregnancy (1 trimester). This is the period of organ laying, so the occurrence of the disease is especially dangerous during this period. A pregnant woman needs to know everything about her in order to protect herself and the baby from illness.

Any disease in the expectant mother is a threat to the baby, and chicken pox is no exception.

Causes of chickenpox in pregnant women

Chickenpox is the popular name for a disease that is provoked by the Varicella-Zoster virus or herpes type III. It spreads through the air and enters the body through the respiratory organs, initially localizing on their mucous membranes. It is also possible to become infected through close contact with the skin of the carrier, as it is possible to become infected with a clear liquid that fills the dropsy.
Usually, if the fair sex was ill in childhood, she is not afraid of chickenpox during pregnancy, since the disease rarely occurs several times in one person. But the mutation of the virus still requires caution on the part of the expectant mother - she should not come into contact with patients. Against the background of weakened immunity and changes in the formula of the virus, previously formed antibodies can "skip" the infection, regardless of the fact that the person has been ill.

The absence of external symptoms in the form of pimples on the skin does not mean that a person is not contagious, since chickenpox becomes very “flying” a day before the onset of initial symptoms. The virus can proceed in a mild form, so the clean skin of the carrier does not mean it is less infectious (dropsy can be small and localized only under the hair on the head). This makes the disease more terrible, as the pregnant woman is in contact with the carrier, unaware of a possible infection.

The problem is exacerbated by the weakening of the woman's immune system during pregnancy and changes in the hormonal background. From this, the likelihood of infection increases, the possibility of chickenpox in severe form increases.

The danger of chickenpox to the fetus

The course of the disease during pregnancy is the same as in other people (rash, fever). But most often in such cases, chickenpox occurs in severe form and is accompanied by various complications. Therefore, chickenpox is dangerous for pregnancy and the fetus. But this does not mean that a sick expectant mother will necessarily face complications or risks for the baby. Such consequences are rare with timely access to a doctor.

It is important to adhere to the treatment prescribed by a specialist and make an analysis for developmental anomalies, intrauterine pathologies. If the risks are high, the doctor can send the patient for amniocentesis or cordocentesis (the essence of the analysis is in the diagnosis of amniotic fluid and cord blood).

It is believed that the disease is especially serious in the early stages of pregnancy or right before childbirth. This is due to the fact that a child can get congenital chickenpox, since antibodies have not formed in the mother's body. It is carried by the baby in an extremely severe form and affects the insides. With the activity of the virus at the expected date of birth, doctors medically delay the day of delivery. Otherwise, the child is immediately placed in the infectious diseases department and receives an injection of immunoglobulin.

In the first trimester

All infections in the initial period of bearing a child have a very adverse effect on this process. If a woman falls ill, this can cause malformations in the development of the baby or his intrauterine death, so contact with the carrier at this time is prohibited.

If a pregnant woman falls ill with chickenpox in the early stages, there is a threat of a developmental failure for the raft.

If chickenpox occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, this can cause rashes in the fetus, developmental disorders in the cortex of the brain and spinal cord, underdevelopment of the limbs, etc. You can find out about the occurrence of defects during ultrasound and screening, which are carried out several times during pregnancy. Such complications are rare, since fetal developmental disorders at such an early date usually lead to spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.

Treatment can prevent the consequences.

In the second trimester

The second trimester (especially after 20 weeks) is the safest, contact with a patient, a carrier of the virus, does not carry any special risks. The placenta has already formed and reliably protects the fetus, so there are no negative consequences for it, regardless of how the disease progresses in the mother. Chickenpox in pregnant women in these weeks does not lead to intrauterine infections.

In the third trimester

A woman in a late pregnancy position with chickenpox may lose her baby.

Chickenpox for pregnant women in the later stages, especially in the last month, is also often accompanied by dangers. Congenital herpes type III develops when childbirth occurs in a mother infected in the third trimester, so doctors delay the birth process with medication. If the attempt fails, the mother and newborn need to be injected with immunoglobulin, which will prevent the death of the baby, although he will get sick. If the newborn is ill, he will be taken to the infectious diseases department for therapy.

Getting sick with chickenpox before the 36th week is not scary. The seriousness of the disease lies in the fact that the necessary antibodies do not have time to form in the body, which leads to congenital chickenpox of the newborn.
The most terrible is the manifestation of symptoms of the disease less than 4 days before the birth process, since approximately every 5th baby dies from complications of the disease. If the disease in a woman in labor manifested itself earlier, the baby will suffer a mild form of chicken pox.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the disease in a pregnant woman appear in the same way as in all adults (it is believed that in adults they are more pronounced than in childhood). The incubation period is up to the 21st day.

Symptoms of chicken pox:

bad feeling;
headache;
the desire to eat disappears;
high body temperature;
a rash appears a couple of days after the condition worsens;
rashes look like bubbles with a clear liquid;
the rash affects all skin integuments;
The rashes last for about a week.

When a pregnant woman becomes infected with the disease, she will get sick in a severe or moderate form, since the protective capabilities of the immune system are reduced already by 2-3 weeks. Symptoms are clearly visible, it also happens that the disease proceeds in an atypical form.

Chickenpox during these 9 months often develops into herpetic pneumonia, which occurs in a particularly severe form in the later period.

Motherhood and the birth of a child are very important events in the life of every woman. Expectant mothers want the baby to be born good and beautiful, and most importantly, healthy, so you need to take the new situation seriously. Unfortunately, no one is immune from chickenpox, and a woman, even having been ill in childhood, can become infected again.

Chickenpox during pregnancy: a harmless disease or a serious danger?

Most people had chickenpox in childhood, and have long forgotten about it, like a nightmare. People who became infected with chickenpox already in adulthood were not very lucky: for adults, this is a serious and dangerous disease, and if you don’t notice it during it, you can easily earn complications. But what to do if you are not lucky to get sick now, before the birth of the baby?

What is a windmill?

Chickenpox is an acute viral disease that mainly affects children, from 2 to 10 years old. The disease for them does not pose a serious danger and is treated without any difficulties.

The difference between chickenpox in children and adults is that the latter are more difficult to tolerate. Characteristic signs of chickenpox:

Eruptions on the body in the form of a blistering rash.
Nausea.
Malaise.
Loss of appetite.
Sometimes pain in the muscles and joints.
Fever.

High temperature lasts from 2 to 5 days, with complications - from 7 to 5, reaching up to 41 ° C).

Incubation period

The disease begins to manifest itself after the incubation period - the time interval between infection and the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease themselves. In children, this period lasts about two weeks, in adults - a little longer, about 21 days.

After the incubation period, the prodromal begins. During this period of time, a person develops weakness and headache, a person becomes contagious two days before the characteristic signs of chickenpox appear. After the prodromal period, the main stage of the disease begins.

Sources of infection

The disease is transmitted exclusively by airborne droplets, through the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. You can get sick with it only from another person when he coughs or just talks. For people with strong immunity, the disease is much easier and without complications. If a person had chickenpox in childhood, then the chance of getting infected again is almost zero.

Pregnancy and infection: risks at different times

The surest way to protect your baby from possible consequences is to test for the presence of antibodies even before conception. This allows:

Find out and put the exact cause of the ailment.
Get information about the presence or absence of a virus.
Get vaccinated.

Pregnancy should be planned after 1 month from the date of vaccination.

The course of the disease in expectant mothers is no different from the course of chickenpox in adults. Pregnancy does not cause complications. Distinctive features are a more noticeable and profuse rash, sometimes accompanied by severe itching.

The virus that provoked chickenpox can adversely affect the child. The degree of risk depends on the trimester when the woman became infected. The greatest danger is infection a few days before childbirth. The chance of developing intrauterine chickenpox increases greatly - up to 10-30%.