Chickenpox is a very infectious disease and is caused by a herpes virus named Herpes Zoster. The medical name for chickenpox is Varicella.
Most people get chickenpox in childhood and are immune to it after that which means you cannot catch it again.
A small number of adults are not immune. And if you catch chickenpox as an adult it can be more serious. If you are pregnant there may be risks for your baby.
You usually catch chickenpox by being in the same room as an infected person for 15 minutes, or being face to face with them for five minutes. You can have chickenpox for ten days to three weeks before any symptoms appear.
The first signs are fever and feeling unwell ,an itchy rash of watery blisters will appear on the second day. After a few days the blisters will burst, form a crust and finally heal . You can pass chickenpox on to other people from up to two days before the rash appears until all the blisters have crusted over.
If you have already had chickenpox, you are immune and there is nothing to worry about. You do not need to do anything. Your baby will have the benefit of your immunity during the pregnancy and for the first seven days after it is born. If you are not sure whether you have had chicken pox, see your doctor as soon as possible. He/she can give you a blood test to find out if you are immune.
If you get chickenpox in the first three months of your pregnancy this does not increase the risk of a miscarriage. Only about three in every thousand of pregnant women, catch chickenpox . An even smaller number of babies are affected in the womb.
The risks to an unborn baby depend on when its mother catches chickenpox.
If she gets it:
. … from conception to the 20th week of pregnancy the baby may be infected. In just 1to 2 percent cases the baby gets infected later in the pregnancy this can cause damage to the eyes, legs, arms, brain, bladder or bowel. If a baby is infected, an ultrasound scan may show up some of the problems if it is done at 16-20 weeks or five weeks after the mother has caught the virus. The baby’s eyes should usually be tested shortly after it is born.
. … between the 20th and 36th week the baby will have no problems in the womb. The virus will stay in the baby’s body, and may show up as shingles in the first few years of its life. It will be no worse than for any other child.
. … after the 36th week the baby may get chickenpox in the womb.
. … and the baby is born within seven days of the mother’s rash appearing the baby may get severe chickenpox. The birth may be more risky for a mother and her baby if she develops the rash of chickenpox within seven days of the birth.
Two anti-viral drugs are available to treat chickenpox.
1)Varicella-zoster immune globulin strengthens the immune system. It is extracted from human blood, given by donors. It does not prevent chickenpox developing but it may make the attack less serious. It should be used before any symptoms appear; it does not work afterwards. . 2)Acyclovir may reduce fever and other symptoms if it is started within 24 hours of the rash developing.
If you get chickenpox within five days of giving birth, your newborn baby will be given the immunoglobulin. This will not necessarily stop the baby getting chickenpox, but it should reduce symptoms and the risk of complications. Your baby will be checked for signs of chickenpox for about another two weeks.
If your baby is born with chickenpox it will usually be given acyclovir by injection; this should help to support the baby’s immune system and make the rash heal more quickly.
If your baby comes into contact with chickenpox within the first seven days after the birth it will be protected by any immunity you have. If you are not immune, or if you have given birth early, your baby will usually be given immunoglobulin.
Although chickenpox is very rare in pregnant women it can be very serious. You can get complications such as pneumonia. You are at greater risk of complications if you catch chickenpox when you are pregnant if you smoke or you have a lung disease such as bronchitis or emphysema or you are taking steroids or have done so in the last three months or you are in the second half of your pregnancy. You can be vaccinated against chickenpox in certain countries. If you are not immune to chickenpox, or you are not sure whether you are immune, try to avoid coming into contact with people who may have it.
You should seek your doctors help immediately if you have any of the following symptoms with chicken pox in pregnancy
----Chest and breathing problems
----Headache, drowsiness, vomiting or feeling sick
----Bleeding
----Bleeding rash
----Dense rash
If you are not immune to chickenpox you can be treated with immunoglobulin, usually by injection, up to ten days after you come into contact with chickenpox. If you take Immunoglobulin more than ten days after you come into contact with chickenpox it will not prevent it from developing, but your symptoms should be milder and last less time.
Acyclovir given by mouth can reduce your fever and symptoms if you develop a rash and you are seen within 24 hours of it appearing. It is not usually prescribed for chickenpox if you are less than 20 weeks pregnant. Acyclovir is no use for chickenpox if you take it more than 24 hours after the rash appears, so it is important to get to your doctor quickly.
Once you have given birth you are no longer considered to be at serious risk if you come into contact with chickenpox, but if you are not immune your doctor may give you acyclovir.
If you develop the rash, try not to scratch. Take extra care with hygiene to prevent your skin getting infected or turning septic. If you take acyclovir after the 20th week of your pregnancy it does not seem to
harm your unborn baby.
