Is shingles in pregnancy, affecting the fetus?

Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus, which causes the sufferer to suffer skin pain due to blistering rashes. This condition can appear at any time even during pregnancy. Early diagnosis and treatment is a way to minimize the impact on the child and prevent complications in the future.

1. Symptoms of shingles

Shingles is a reactive form of varicella zoster virus – the cause of chickenpox. Sometimes shingles are also called herpes zoster, but not the same as genital herpes.

A person who has had chickenpox before will not recur later, but the virus can work again and cause shingles. This condition is usually a sign of changes in the body's internal body associated with aging, or warns that your immunity is at a low level so it is impossible to suppress the virus. The cause may be pregnancy or severe stress. Shingles may recur but will not return again and again.

Typical symptom of shingles is a rash in the form of small blisters, which causes pain to the person. Blisters will appear anywhere on the body, but most commonly in the chest, abdomen, one side of the torso or the face. Before the rash, patients often feel burning or tingling in the affected area, sometimes accompanied by symptoms of fatigue and unwellness in the person. Some people also have fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea and difficulty urinating. For the next few days, the rashes blister into blisters containing fluid, which after 7-10 days will peel off the scales and fall off.

Even if the rash has disappeared, the pains can still persist in the old place. This condition is called post-shingles nerve pain, which affects about 1% of patients. The rest will end the pain within up to 4 months from the first sign appears.

Shingles have left scars

Zona is caused by the chickenpox virus, which is an infectious disease

2. Does shingles affect the fetus?

Women with shingles during pregnancy will not harm the fetus. Although shingles are harmless to babies during pregnancy, the varicella-zoster virus is highly contagious causing chickenpox.

Specifically, getting chickenpox during pregnancy can lead to chickenpox infection or birth defects in the fetus, depending on when the pregnant woman is sick.

Therefore, people with shingles need to isolate from pregnant women until the lesions on the skin heal, especially if a rash occurs in the body part that the clothes do not cover. In case you are pregnant and have not had chickenpox (or have not had immunity thanks to the vaccine), it is advisable to avoid contact with people with shingles or crowds when there is an outbreak of chickenpox. Blood tests can be performed to check for antibodies to VZV (varicella-zoster) If you suspect you are experiencing shingles, especially when blisters appear in the head of the neck and face, it is advisable to see a doctor immediately to limit the effect on the eyes.

Babies with respiratory inflammation

Pregnant mother with shingles won't affect fetus

3. Treatment of shingles in pregnant women

Currently, there is still no specific cure for shingles. However, antiviral drugs such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) can be treated to help alleviate the severity of shingles as well as the risk of post-shingles neurone pain. The drug will work best if taken as soon as possible after the symptoms begin. The doctor should consider whether the benefits of antiviral drugs outn outn the risk to the baby, before deciding to give the pregnant woman treatment of shingles with the drug. If taken in accordance with the instructions, these drugs are considered safe during pregnancy.

Your doctor may also recommend the following supportive methods to manage the symptoms of shingles:

  • Take paracetamol to relieve pain caused by a rash;
  • Keep the blisters clean and dry to avoid infection;
  • Do not share towels and clothing with sick people to limit the spread;
  • Dressing generously when having a rash, avoiding the fabric rubbing on the blisters will help them heal faster;
  • If the pimples are leaky, use a cool gauze to soothe the skin and help keep the rash clean. Note, each time applying cool guards to acne nodules does not last more than 20 minutes and is carried out only when they are leaking;
  • Apply some calamine lotion to the rash to soothe the itching.

In general, the incidence of shingles in pregnant women is very low. If you are planning to become pregnant and are worried about the risk of shingles, it is advisable to consult a doctor. For pregnant women, it is necessary to practice healthy living habits and see a doctor as soon as there are any unusual symptoms. Early recognition and treatment will minimize the risk of complications of shingles in babies and pregnant women.

At Vinmec International Health Hub, there is a full maternity service as a solution to help pregnant mothers feel secure because there is a team of doctors throughout the pregnancy. When choosing a full-service maternity, a pregnant woman can:

  • The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly specialized doctors
  • Regular examination, early detection of abnormalities
  • Package maternity for the convenience of childbirth
  • Infants receive comprehensive care

For direct advice, please click the HOTLINE number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

Article reference source: babycentre.co.uk, webmd.com

SEE MORE:

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  • Why do older people need to be vaccinated against chickenpox?

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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