Reasons for Chicken Pox Effects More Dangerous when Pregnant

Chickenpox is more common in children, but it does not rule out the possibility of pregnant women getting chickenpox. Pregnant women must be alert because chickenpox can trigger dangerous complications for themselves and the fetus. Chickenpox virus can be transmitted through direct contact with rashes or splash of saliva from chickenpox sufferers. Pregnant women who have had chickenpox may breathe easily because the body's immune system has developed a defense against the chickenpox virus. Chickenpox, also called varicella, has symptoms such as fever, pain in the body, then followed by a small reddish rash. In general, chickenpox symptoms will appear 14-16 days from the first day of exposure to the virus. People with chickenpox can then continue to transmit until the rash dries. Most pregnant women who are exposed to chickenpox can recover without any effect, but there are also pregnant women who can experience complications. Here are some risks of complications that can befall:
  • Pregnant mother

  • One risk of chickenpox complications in pregnant women is pneumonia, which is pneumonia. In addition, other complications that can occur are encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Factors that can increase the risk of chickenpox complications in pregnant women are bad smoking habits, have a history of lung disease, take steroids, and contain more than 20 weeks.
  • Baby in the womb

  • If chickenpox infection occurs in the first half of pregnancy, there is a risk of congenital varicella syndrome. This syndrome can cause congenital abnormalities in the form of scars, muscle and bone abnormalities, paralysis, head size, head blindness, blindness, or mental retardation. However, until now it has not been proven that chicken pox can increase the risk of miscarriage. For chicken pox that occurs at 28-36 weeks' gestation, the virus will enter the baby's body with the possibility of not causing any symptoms. The risk of the virus becoming active again and triggering chickenpox (shingles) can occur in the first few years of the baby's life. Specifically regarding chickenpox that occurs after 36 weeks gestation will increase the likelihood of babies infected and born with chickenpox.
  • Newborn baby

  • Not only in the period in the womb, chickenpox can also attack the baby after childbirth. Chickenpox that occurs a few days before giving birth up to a maximum of two days after giving birth can cause newborns to be attacked by chickenpox which can be life-threatening, called neonatal varicella. When pregnant women develop chickenpox and are not treated, then the chance of babies having chicken pox during those times reaches 50 percent. Chickenpox symptoms will appear at the age of the baby about 5-10 days after birth. If not handled properly, chicken pox in newborns can cause death.

How Can You Prevent Chickenpox During Pregnancy?

For pregnant women who do not know whether they have been exposed to chickenpox or not, the doctor can do a blood test to confirm it. The test results will indicate whether there is immunity in the body or not. If then pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, make contact with chickenpox sufferers, immediately consult a doctor. It is likely that the doctor will give you an immunoglobulin injection that contains antibodies against the smallpox virus. Injections given a maximum of 10 days after exposure to the chickenpox virus can prevent or reduce its severity. The injection is considered safe for the baby in the womb, but it is still unknown with certainty related to its effectiveness in protecting the baby from infection. In the worst case scenario, if a pregnant woman already shows symptoms of chickenpox, the doctor will likely give antiviral drugs to reduce the severity and reduce the risk of complications. It is possible that the doctor will give immunoglobulin injections to newborn babies by mothers who are suffering from chickenpox. This is done to prevent or reduce the severity of the disease. If the baby shows chickenpox symptoms, the doctor will also give antiviral medication. Equally important is that you are planning a pregnancy and have never had chickenpox. Consult with your doctor to get chickenpox vaccination for adults. It's best to wait three months after the second vaccination before starting the pregnancy program. If you're not sure, do a blood test to make sure your body has immunity against the chickenpox virus. Apart from that, having a blood test is an important step for pregnant women to anticipate the risk of health problems. The risk of chickenpox attack in pregnant women should be considered more closely, especially when considering the complications that may be caused to the mother and baby. Consult with your doctor about steps to treat or prevent chickenpox in pregnant women.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Altitude Phobias and How To Overcome It

Fathers Can Also Experience the Baby Blues