Chickenpox (Varicella) and Pregnancy

What’s chickenpox?

Chickenpox (varicella) is a really contagious illness. It occurs most frequently in childhood. By maturity, most individuals within the U.S. have had chickenpox or had the vaccine in childhood. Greater than 9 in 10 pregnant individuals are resistant to chickenpox. However about 1 in 2,000 pregnant individuals within the U.S. will get chickenpox throughout being pregnant as a result of they are not immune. Pregnant individuals who get chickenpox are in danger for critical well being issues. 

The illness is attributable to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is a type of the herpes virus. It may be unfold from individual to individual by contact with an contaminated particular person’s rash. And it could unfold by the air by a cough or sneeze. Chickenpox is contagious 1 to 2 days earlier than the rash exhibits up till the blisters have dried and develop into scabs. As soon as an individual is uncovered to the virus, chickenpox might take as much as 14 to 16 days to indicate up.

Dangers of chickenpox in being pregnant

When an individual has chickenpox within the first 20 weeks of being pregnant, there is a 1 in 50 likelihood for the child to develop a set of start defects. That is referred to as the congenital varicella syndrome. It consists of:

This syndrome is uncommon if an an infection happens after 20 weeks of being pregnant.

Dangers of chickenpox after start

In a start mother or father who will get the rash from 5 days earlier than start to 2 days after start:

If the start mother or father has a rash between 6 and 21 days earlier than start:

If the child is handled proper after start with a shot of VZIG (varicella-zoster immune globulin):

The chickenpox vaccine

In 1995, the FDA permitted a chickenpox vaccine. If a pregnant particular person has had contact with somebody who has chickenpox or shingles, VZIG may be given inside 96 hours to forestall chickenpox, or reduce the severity. The severity of chickenpox in being pregnant may additionally be decreased by the antiviral medication acyclovir. Pregnant individuals should not have contact with anybody who has chickenpox if they don’t seem to be positive in the event that they’re immune.

The easiest way to guard in opposition to chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. Folks should not get the vaccine throughout being pregnant or within the 30 days earlier than making an attempt to get pregnant, until they have been uncovered to chickenpox.