3 Serious Childhood Illnesses You Should Prevent During Pregnancy
One critical concern for expecting women is whether or not they had acquired some of the childhood illnesses prior to becoming pregnant. Illnesses like Measles, Mumps, Rubella or German Measles, Chickenpox and Fifth Disease or Roseola Infantum are of particular interest due to the fact that these apparently mild illnesses during child years may have serious effects on the expecting females or their babies.
MEASLES
This is an incredibly infectious viral infection that presents 7 to 11 days after exposure. Patients generally first manifest the “3 Cs” specifically conjunctivitis (reddening of the eyes), coryza (watery nasal discharge), and cough, associated with the presence of grayish whitish dots on lining of the mouth. These signs are then followed with high fever and appearance of a rash which starts at the head, spreads downward, and fades in the same manner.
If the woman contracts measles shortly before giving birth, there is a substantial risk of serious infection in the newborn. The virus does not seem to lead to teratogenic effects, but several studies showed thatthere is an elevated frequency of abortion, low birth weight infants, and preterm delivery. The pregnant woman can also develop measles pneumonia.
What you can do? Within 3 days of exposure, the pregnant woman can be given passive immunization with immune serum globulin 5 ml intramuscularly. Active immunization is not performed in the course of pregnancy. However, susceptible females are vaccinated routinely postpartum.
MUMPS
Mumps is an uncommon adult infection triggered by a virus which mainly infects the salivary glands. Signs and symptoms of fever, headache, malaise and painful enlargement of the salivary gland manifest 12 to 24 days after exposure.
Luckily, mumps through pregnancy is no more serious compared to non-pregnant adults. There is no proof that it can increase fetal wastage and fetal anomalies.
RUBELLA OR GERMAN MEASLES
This infection by a Rubella virus presents with fever, non-itchy rash, swollen lymph nodes and joint pains, 2 to3 weeks after exposure. Rubella has been directly accountable for incalculable fetal wastage and fetal malformation known as the Congenital Rubella Syndrome. It is one of the most teratogenic infections known.
Various studies have shown 80% of women with rubella in the course of the first 12 weeks of pregnancy have a fetus with congenital malformation. This incidence is reduced to 54% at 13 to 14 weeks, and by the end of the 2nd trimester, went down to 25%. Thus, the timing of maternal infection and fetal organ development determine the probability and intensity of congenital malformations. Clinical manifestations of Congenital Rubella Syndrome involve one or more of the following:
• Eye lesions which includes cataract, glaucoma, and other abnormalities
• Heart ailments like patent ductus arteriosus, septal defects, and pulmonary artery stenosis
• Deafness
• Meningoencephalitis
• Fetal growth restriction
• Blood disorders like anemia and thrombocytopenia
• Hepatitis, liver enlargement, or yellowish discoloration of the skin
• Pneumonitis
• Bone changes
What one can do? Remember, measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can not be given while you’re pregnant. So, if you haven’t had rubella before nor had immunization when you were still young, you must get yourself vaccinated and hold off for one month before attempting to become pregnant. Getting vaccinated quickly after giving birth is yet another feasible option.
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