Will chickenpox during pregnancy affect the fetus?

Chickenpox is very familiar to many people. It is also a skin disease. Chickenpox during pregnancy can easily cause great harm to the health of pregnant women. It can also have some effects on the fetus, causing fetal malformations or incomplete fetal development. At the same time, chickenpox is highly contagious, so you must pay attention to isolation.

Will chickenpox during pregnancy affect the fetus?

Chickenpox is a common viral disease characterized by skin rashes and blisters, often accompanied by fever. It is more common in children, but it is more serious in adults and can be life-threatening, especially in pregnant women, and can affect the fetus.

1. Does chickenpox affect the fetus?

If a pregnant woman develops chickenpox within 20 weeks of pregnancy, the probability of the fetus being affected is about 2%. Although the incidence is not high, the impact is serious if it occurs.

2. What effects does chickenpox have on the fetus?

Different stages of pregnancy have different effects

(1) 1st to 4th month of pregnancy: May cause fetal malformation and developmental abnormalities.

(2) 4-5 months of pregnancy: It can cause serious damage to the fetus's muscles, nerves, eyes, brain, lungs, and skin.

(3) 16 days before birth to 2 days after birth: 25% of newborns will develop severe varicella 5 to 10 days after birth. If left untreated, the mortality rate can be as high as 30%.

3. How harmful is chickenpox to pregnant women?

Pregnant women will have more severe chickenpox than children and ordinary adults, and are more likely to develop varicella pneumonia, hepatitis, myocarditis, nephritis, and thrombocytopenic purpura, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.

4. How long does it take for a pregnant woman to develop symptoms after being infected with the varicella virus?

Chickenpox is highly contagious and can be transmitted through respiratory droplets or direct contact. Symptoms occur 10 to 20 days after infection.

5. How to prevent chickenpox?

Pregnant women must stay away from people with chickenpox to prevent infection by the chickenpox virus. Avoid going to crowded public places. If you have never had chickenpox, you can get the chickenpox vaccine before pregnancy if necessary, in two injections, 3 months apart.

6. What should a pregnant woman do if she gets chickenpox?

Early antiviral treatment is the key. It is best to start treatment within 3 days of the onset of the rash, the sooner the better. Acyclovir can be used, usually for 5 to 10 days. It can alleviate clinical symptoms, shorten the course of the disease and prevent dissemination. It usually heals in about 2 weeks.