29 Feb 2016

Measles during pregnancy

Most viral childhood infections are extremely dangerous for pregnant women, and measles is no exception. Any pregnant woman who does not have immunity to this disease can easily become infected and harm herself and her unborn child.

70 years ago, every fifth child died from measles. There were no vaccines against it then, and everyone got sick. Poor nutrition, underweight and lack of effective drugs affected the health of children - the fittest survived. In underdeveloped countries, this virus still kills thousands of children every year. In our country, we have learned to fight measles, but the danger of this disease should not be underestimated. Every expectant mother should know about measles and be able to protect her health in time.

Measles is an acute disease of viral etiology. The causative agent is an RNA virus from the group of paramyxoviruses. Transmitted by airborne droplets. The measles virus is very volatile, which makes humans highly susceptible to this disease. There are practically no people in the world who cannot be affected by the measles virus. It is for this reason that the measles vaccine is mandatory in many countries around the world.

The virus remains active over a long distance - up to three meters, so it is quite easy to become infected. Measles can be “caught” in any crowded place, for example in public transport. At the same time, it is not necessary to sit next to the patient - the virus lives quietly in external environment up to two hours. The expectant mother can become infected from older children, since measles is considered a childhood disease. Unvaccinated children get sick in kindergartens and schools.

The insidiousness of the virus lies in its secrecy. The incubation period for measles lasts up to two weeks. When you fall ill, the disease does not manifest itself for some time, but is actively excreted in a person’s saliva. Thus, the patient, without knowing it, infects others.

Immunity to measles is developed in two cases - you need to get sick from it, or get vaccinated. In other cases, infection occurs after contact with a sick person is almost guaranteed.

Infection during pregnancy increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, premature birth, abnormalities in fetal development, and the development of neurological complications. Measles is one of the most dangerous infections during pregnancy, second only to rubella. Despite the fact that the incidence of this infection is relatively low, it is extremely dangerous to suffer from.

How to recognize measles

The first signs of measles are similar to those of a cold or respiratory infection. This can be a sharp increase in temperature - up to 39-40°, photophobia, irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose, lacrimation, dry cough, nasal discharge, headache. After a few days, red spots appear on the body. First they are localized behind the ears, on the wings of the nose. After a few days, the spots spread throughout the body.

Then the rash gradually turns into pigmentation, while the general condition of the patient improves. After another 2-3 days, the spots fade and disappear, but this is not a sign of complete recovery. General weakness may persist for a long time - up to several weeks.

What are the dangers of measles during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, this disease can threaten a pregnant woman with very dangerous complications.

When infected on early stages possible development of defects nervous system fetus, spontaneous miscarriage. The virus is able to penetrate the placenta and can even lead to stillbirth, depending on the mother's immunity. Due to its toxicity, the virus can affect the fetal brain, which leads to intellectual development defects (oligophrenia) and mental disorders.

For more later, especially towards the end of the third trimester, the baby may be born with congenital measles infection. This is evidenced by a characteristic rash on the body and mouth of the newborn. Congenital measles is very difficult to diagnose during pregnancy and requires immediate treatment after birth. Delayed treatment can lead to pneumonia and even death. Mortality in such cases is 20-30% in full-term infants, and 56% in premature infants.

Complication of measles

IN modern conditions measles in newborns can be successfully treated, but is still very severe and can cause a number of complications, such as:

• cystitis;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia; ()
• conjunctivitis;
• eustachitis;
• otitis;
• pyoderma;
• phlegmon;
• meningitis;
• encephalitis.

This variety of complications indicates the destructive impact of the virus on the entire human immune system.

Diagnosis of measles

The disease is usually diagnosed visually, as it has characteristic symptoms. Sometimes a blood test is required to check for antibodies to the measles virus. Other additional tests are usually not prescribed.

foto from wikihow.com

It should be remembered that today there is no method that can cure measles without consequences for the mother and child. This disease is more effective and easier to prevent than to treat.

If infection could not be avoided, do not panic. The body will find the strength to cope with the infection on its own, you just need to wait. Naturally, medical supervision is necessary.

The treatment regimen is similar to that for ARVI, and is aimed only at alleviating the symptoms of the disease. This includes:

• strict bed rest;
• drinking plenty of water;
• rinsing, inhalation;
• a diet that is not overloading (loss of appetite is a normal sign - there is no need to force yourself to eat);
• taking antipyretic drugs;
• it is possible to prescribe antihistamines;
• vitamin therapy;
• Regular wet cleaning of the room where the patient is located is necessary.

There are no antiviral drugs that cure measles, so their use is useless.

For unvaccinated pregnant women who have been in contact with a patient, immunoglobulin administration is indicated in the first 72 hours from the moment of contact. The injection is performed intramuscularly at the rate of 0.25 ml/kg body weight.

The danger of measles for an adult is the complications that the infection can cause. The most common complications are:

• inflammation of the heart muscle;
• otitis;
• pneumonia.

In such cases, hospitalization and taking antibacterial drugs are indicated. Antibiotics are selected individually by a doctor, since most effective drugs are prohibited during pregnancy.

Used to treat newborns latest methods resuscitation. Under no circumstances can you cancel breast-feeding. The mother transfers valuable antibodies with milk, and the child’s immunity helps to cope with the disease faster. Treatment of mother and newborn is usually carried out in a hospital.

Preventing measles

Plays a leading role, because prevention is always easier than cure. Having had measles once, a person acquires lifelong immunity. For people without immunity best choice is vaccination and isolation of sick people. Preventive measures should be taken before pregnancy.

Vaccination

The measles vaccine contains a live aggressive virus that can negatively affect the health of the unborn child, so pregnant women are prohibited from getting vaccinated against measles. Immunization against measles is carried out during pregnancy planning. At the time of vaccination, a woman must be sure that she is not pregnant. After administration of the vaccine, it is necessary to protect against pregnancy for at least 3 months.

If you have older children who have not previously had measles, they should also be vaccinated. Remember that the presence of measles symptoms in a child after vaccination does not make him contagious!

What if a woman does not know if she is immune to measles?

Often a woman does not know or does not remember whether she had measles as a child. Measles vaccinations were also not always given. In this case, you need to take a blood test to check for antibodies to measles infection. This test must be taken before pregnancy, so that in the absence of antibodies there is time to get vaccinated.

Summing up

Do not underestimate the danger of this disease during pregnancy. Measles can seriously harm the health of not only the child, but also the mother herself.

Pay attention to vaccination if you are not immune to this disease. Even if infection could not be avoided, timely contact with competent specialists will help you protect yourself and your unborn child. Today, measles can be treated even during pregnancy, and there is no reason to interrupt it, as with rubella.

Measles is an acute viral disease of infectious origin. It is characterized by a sharp increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, skin rashes and intoxication of the entire body. If not treated in a timely manner, it can lead to the development of serious complications. The disease is one of the leading causes of child mortality worldwide. Main share deaths occurs in children under five years of age, but cases also occur among adults.

Causes

During pregnancy, measles is very dangerous for a woman and her baby, like any other viral disease. According to statistics, when contracting this infection during pregnancy, in 20% of cases it ends in spontaneous abortion, premature birth or the development of fetal defects. It all depends on a number of factors. However, infection of a pregnant woman with measles is not an absolute indication for abortion.

The disease, depending on the nature and location of the rash, the presence of additional symptoms and duration, has the following forms:

• light;
• medium-heavy;
• atypical (asymptomatic).

It is worth noting that in our time, measles in expectant mothers is extremely a rare event. And yet, before the expected pregnancy, it is better to get vaccinated against measles, if necessary, so that nothing could overshadow the expectation of the baby.

The main cause of the disease is the entry of a virus into a woman’s body. The only way of infection is contact with a sick person. The infection does not live outside the human body. The virus can be spread by coughing or sneezing.

Symptoms

A feature of the course of the disease is the absence of symptoms in the first days after infection. After a week, the first signs of measles begin to appear:

• increased body temperature (sometimes up to 40.5 degrees);
• headache;
• unproductive debilitating cough;
• nasal congestion;
• purulent mucous discharge from the nose;
• inflammatory process of the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes;
• the appearance of small white spots in the mouth;
• rashes on the face and body. You should pay attention to the fact that the rash spreads from top to bottom. Over time, it begins to peel off until it disappears completely;
• lack of appetite;
• fast fatiguability;
• frequent loose stools;
• the appearance of photophobia;
• conjunctivitis;
• hoarseness of voice;
• insomnia;
• painful sensations in the abdomen.

If the above symptoms appear, you must urgently consult an infectious disease doctor to establish an accurate diagnosis and prevent undesirable consequences.

Diagnosis of measles during pregnancy

The disease can be identified by the indicated symptoms, as well as by conducting a number of medical laboratory tests. They include the following procedures:

• physical examination by a doctor;
• studying the pregnant woman's medical history;
• general analysis of blood and urine for the inflammatory process present in the body;
• enzyme immunoassay of blood from a vein to determine the presence of antibodies to the virus;
• in extreme cases, if complications in the form of pneumonia are suspected, an X-ray examination of the chest organs.

It is impossible to determine whether the baby is infected before birth.

Complications

Why is measles dangerous during pregnancy?

• the most common complication is the development of bacterial pneumonia in a pregnant woman, which can lead to the death of the fetus and herself;
• spontaneous abortion or premature birth;
• cystitis;
• respiratory tract diseases;
• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes;
• otitis;
• meningitis;
• encephalitis;
• dysfunction of the immune system.

All of these diseases have a direct negative impact on the baby’s health. Therefore, it is important, even during the period of planning the birth of a child, to pay attention to the prevention of such a dangerous disease as measles.

Treatment

Only a doctor can prescribe methods for treating measles during pregnancy. The timeliness and adequacy of therapeutic measures are very important. As a rule, the course of treatment includes the following points:

• compliance with strict bed rest and daily routine;
• drink plenty of fluids (up to 2.5 liters of liquid per day, most of which should be purified still water);
• in the first six days after infection, a single intramuscular injection of immunoglobulin is performed;
• gargling;
• inhalation;
• when body temperature rises, take antipyretics;
• taking vitamin complexes containing vitamins A and C;
• antihistamines;
• Carrying out frequent wet cleaning of the room, regular ventilation;
• following a special diet that does not overload the gastrointestinal tract;
• in case of bacterial pneumonia development, treatment with antimicrobial drugs is included.

Dietary nutrition is an important component of anti-measles therapy and consists of the following points:

• your daily diet should contain as many vegetables and fruits as possible (preferably baked, stewed or steamed);
• broths are best prepared using lean meats with the addition of cereals and vegetables;
• compliance with optimal temperature regime food. All food should be warm;
• exclusion of sour, spicy, salty foods from the diet to avoid irritation of the oral mucosa;
• Protein foods are healthy, for example, steamed cutlets, pates, meat and fish soufflés, omelettes (steamed), cottage cheese with berries, porridge;
• kefir, homemade yoghurts perfectly strengthen the immune system and normalize the functioning of the intestines;
• refusal of fatty foods, smoked meats, spices, canned food.

Prevention

The disease can be prevented in the following ways:

• taking a blood test to determine antibodies to the disease;
• vaccination against measles during pregnancy planning;
• taking vitamin complexes to improve immunity;
• If someone in your environment gets sick, immediately contact a doctor.

They, along with measles and rubella, pose a huge danger, because we're talking about not only about the health of the mother, but also about the life of the unborn baby...

“Childhood” viral diseases have a lot in common. All of them are transmitted by airborne droplets and are highly contagious. To catch any of these ailments, it is enough to inhale the tiny droplets of saliva that the patient secretes when breathing, talking, coughing and sneezing. The danger is that identifying an infected person by sight is not at all easy. It becomes contagious several days before it appears characteristic symptoms. Therefore, a purely theoretical threat to expectant mother can represent any seemingly healthy person. Especially if it's a child. But this does not mean at all that a pregnant woman needs to panic and not go outside for the entire 9 months. It's not that scary. The main thing is to remember whether she had measles, chickenpox, mumps and rubella in childhood. If the answer is yes, the young lady can be calm: nothing threatens her and the baby. After suffering from diseases, the body has developed a strong immunity to them, so you cannot get infected again even if you want to. You only need to worry if the “childhood” sores bypassed the woman and she was not vaccinated against them.

However, even if you have been vaccinated, you should play it safe and, just in case, get tested for antibodies to pathogens. After all, 25 years after vaccination, the immunity formed to them weakens significantly, or even disappears altogether. This means that mommy has every chance of catching a dangerous infection.

Measles: strikes at a distance

Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases. A child can catch it by being in a room where a sick person was 2 hours before. And it is enough for a pregnant woman, for example, to be in the same transport with a sick person, and they can even sit at different ends of the bus. The measles virus easily travels a distance of several tens of meters, and if it has reached a person, it will probably take over. If this trouble happens to the expectant mother, it is very important to determine the stage of pregnancy at which she fell ill. The smaller it is, the more severe the consequences. Measles infection in the first trimester leads to miscarriage or miscarriage in 20% of cases. various pathologies fetus The baby may be born with low level intellectual development (oligophrenia) or serious damage to the nervous system. Moreover, these defects are the worst diagnosed at the beginning of pregnancy. Unfortunately, neither an experienced gynecologist nor a qualified ultrasound specialist will be able to say for sure whether the young lady will bypass the interesting position Trouble is on its way or it will fall into that ill-fated 20%. Therefore, women who have had measles in the early stages of pregnancy are often offered to artificially terminate it. But, of course, this is an extreme measure, and before deciding to take this step, a thorough examination is carried out.

The prognosis of the disease suffered after the 16th week of pregnancy is more encouraging. At this stage, measles, as a rule, proceeds more easily and does not affect negative influence for the fruit. The disease is prevented from spreading by the placenta, which by this time has finally formed and reliably protects the unborn baby from the negative effects of harmful factors. However, in the last weeks of pregnancy the danger reappears. If the mother gets sick closer to the end, then she can infect her little one when he passes through the birth canal. Back in the middle of the last century, such a “gift” could have led to the death of a child, but now, when doctors have strong antibiotics and modern methods resuscitation, infant mortality from congenital measles infection has decreased significantly. The chance that something irreparable will happen to the baby is negligible.

Chickenpox: rare, but accurate

Doctors say that most people who think they never had chickenpox as children actually had it in such a mild form that they didn’t even notice it. Only 4% of adults are immune to this disease. Apparently, this is why it rarely occurs in pregnant women. According to statistics, out of 2,000 expectant mothers, only one catches the chickenpox virus. If a woman falls ill before 20 weeks, miscarriage and intrauterine fetal death are possible. If the pregnancy continues, the danger still remains. The baby may develop the so-called congenital chickenpox syndrome. The defects it causes include scars on the skin, underdevelopment of muscles and bones of the extremities, cataracts, various neurological disorders (atrophy of the cerebral cortex, mental retardation, urinary and fecal incontinence, etc.). Fortunately, this syndrome is no more common than the disease itself. The probability that it will form in a baby does not exceed 2%. But it’s still better to play it safe and undergo an unscheduled ultrasound, which will determine whether the chickenpox virus has reached the fetus, and if so, what is the extent of its damage.

No less dangerous is a disease contracted in late pregnancy, especially 4-5 days before birth. When a baby is born, it can become infected from its mother. The tragedy is that chickenpox in infants is very severe and is often accompanied by complications: bronchopneumonia and internal organs. Unfortunately, not all kids cope with this test. A third of them die. Therefore, if the expectant mother gets chickenpox a few days before the expected delivery, doctors often try to artificially delay it. And if this is not possible, then immediately after birth the baby is given immunoglobulin and antiviral treatment is carried out. Such measures do not protect the newborn from infection, but can significantly reduce the risk of death.

Pig: scary only at first

Mumps, or mumps as doctors call it, is less contagious than chickenpox or measles. Even close contact with a carrier does not always lead to the development of the disease. Nevertheless, this disease is common among expectant mothers. Mumps is most dangerous in the first trimester, when the virus can easily reach the embryo. In this case, the pregnancy often stalls or spontaneous abortion occurs. As a rule, this happens 2 weeks after the woman falls ill. There is also an assumption that the mumps virus affects the ovaries and it is for this reason that a miscarriage occurs. If the pregnancy continues and the unborn baby continues to develop, then there is no reason to worry. The expectant mother can safely drive away thoughts about possible anomalies. Mumps does not cause developmental defects, so the baby will be born healthy.

If a pregnant woman catches an infection shortly before giving birth, she can infect her child, as is the case with chickenpox and measles, when he is born. Or a little later, putting the baby to the breast, since the mumps virus is easily transmitted through mother's milk. But even in this case, the prognosis is favorable. Typically, mumps, even in young children, is relatively mild and does not cause complications.

Rubella: danger code – red!

Rubella is the most dangerous “childhood” infection for pregnant women, because the disease in the early stages always (!) leads to the loss of the child. If the infection occurs in the first trimester, the infection will certainly reach the fetus. As a result, a miscarriage may occur. In the case when pregnancy continues after an illness, irreversible changes occur in the development of the child. Most likely, the baby will be born with congenital rubella syndrome, the so-called pathological triad: cataracts, heart disease and deafness. In addition to this, microcephaly (reduction in the size of the brain), microphthalmia (reduction in the size of the eyeballs), enlarged fontanelles, inflammatory diseases of the brain, damage to the vestibular apparatus, and malformations of the skeleton and genitourinary organs may be added. And this is far from full list a “dowry” baby who was infected in utero. That is why pregnant women who have had the disease in the first trimester are recommended to have an abortion for medical reasons. Otherwise, the baby will be born defective.

If infection with the rubella virus occurs after 16 weeks, then the risk of giving birth to a toddler with developmental defects remains, but becomes minimal. It is believed that in the 4th month of pregnancy the risk of infection of the fetus is 5-6%, in the 5th and later – about 1-1.7%. Therefore, there is no need to terminate the pregnancy. But you should prepare for the fact that the baby may be born with short stature and low body weight. In the future, such children lag behind their peers in physical development. If the mother becomes infected on the eve of childbirth, the baby will develop typical skin rashes, which will soon go away. And the baby himself will remain contagious for several months after birth.

Expert opinion

Anna Mtskhvetaridze, obstetrician-gynecologist at the American Medical Center:

– Several years ago in Russia, most people suffered from “childhood” infections in early age, therefore these diseases in pregnant women were not so actual problem. Currently, many children do not go to kindergartens, as a result of which their risk of disease increases in the future. If you did not have rubella, measles, chickenpox and mumps when you were a child, be sure to get vaccinated several months before conception. During pregnancy, immunization cannot be carried out, since the live virus on the basis of which vaccines are created can adversely affect the fetus. If pregnancy has already occurred, and tests show that you do not have immunity to pathogens of “childhood” diseases, treat your health with the utmost care and try to avoid contact with children.

Recognize the enemy by sight

Measles – fever and cough. The first symptoms of measles can easily be confused with a common cold. You feel lethargic and weak, your temperature rises, your eyes are watery, your throat hurts, you have a runny nose and a dry “barking” cough. After 2-3 days inside small whitish spots appear on the cheeks, similar to semolina. And after a few days, the ears, face, body and limbs become covered with small red spots, which gradually darken and merge into large figures, between which healthy skin is visible.

Chickenpox - blisters on the lips. Chickenpox also begins with high temperature and general malaise. After a few days, a blistering rash appears on the lips and scalp, which gradually spreads to the torso. These are raised, fluid-filled pustules that later dry out and turn into crusts. Do not scratch the blisters under any circumstances, otherwise scars may remain on the skin.

Mumps - pain behind the ears. The first sign of mumps is an increase in salivary glands. Usually they become inflamed on both the left and right, but only one of them can be affected. If you press your finger behind your ear, you will feel severe pain. It becomes difficult for you to talk, chew and swallow food. The temperature may remain normal.

Rubella - blotchy skin. With rubella, the lymph nodes in the back of the head become very swollen. Then a rash appears behind the ears and on the face, which quickly spreads throughout the body. The lesions are small, do not connect with each other and disappear within 2-3 days.

In addition to ARVI, a pregnant woman faces infections that are not at all typical for an adult. These are so-called childhood infections, the consequences of which can be severe for mother and baby.

Childhood infections are a special group of infectious diseases that affect children. These diseases are extremely contagious (contagious), and after they are transferred, persistent lifelong immunity is formed.

The group of childhood infections includes: measles, rubella, chickenpox (chickenpox), mumps (mumps) and some others. We will talk about the most significant ones for the expectant mother.

A pregnant woman may become ill with a disease uncharacteristic of her age if she did not have a particular infection in childhood or was not vaccinated at the appropriate age. The causative agents of childhood infections (usually viruses) have a high ability to cause disease and are transmitted by airborne droplets from a sick person to a healthy person when sneezing, coughing, or breathing.

It should be immediately noted that the risk of contracting childhood infections during pregnancy is no higher than that of non-pregnant women. However, the manifestations of such acute infectious diseases during pregnancy have a number of features: firstly, in most cases they occur nonspecifically, which makes diagnosis difficult; secondly, pathogens of childhood infections (viruses) penetrate the placenta into the blood of the fetus, and therefore can disrupt the development of tissues and organs, leading to congenital malformations of the fetus. The shorter the gestational age at the time of infection, the higher the risk of developing congenital pathology in the newborn.

In this case, infection with viruses is especially dangerous before 14 weeks of pregnancy or a few days before birth.

In the first case, the development processes of the organs and tissues of the fetus are disrupted, in the second, the mother’s body does not have time to develop protective antibodies, the child may be born with a manifestation of the disease (for example, a characteristic rash), is a carrier of the virus and can become a source of infection for other newborns. Children in the neonatal period are quite difficult to tolerate childhood infections that they contracted in utero.

Rubella during pregnancy

One of the most unfavorable infectious diseases during pregnancy is rubella. Its pathogen is transmitted from a sick person by airborne droplets.

Infection occurs through close contact with a sick person (staying together in a room, caring for a sick child). Despite the fact that the infectious agent of rubella is less than that of measles and chickenpox, infection creates a very serious threat to the fetus and the risk of giving birth to a child with developmental defects.

Measles during pregnancy

Measles is an acute infection viral nature, the distinctive feature of which is the very high susceptibility of humans.

If a pregnant woman has not had measles and has not been vaccinated against this infection, then after contact with a sick person, infection occurs in almost 100% of cases.

The measles virus is very highly volatile and is transmitted from a sick person by airborne droplets. Duration incubation period is 9-11 days.

The initial manifestations of the disease include an increase in body temperature to 39ºC, cough, runny nose, redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes, and severe loss of appetite. On the 4th day from the onset of the disease, a characteristic sign of the disease appears - small whitish spots on the mucous membrane of the cheeks, soft and hard palate, similar to semolina or bran, a characteristic rash appears on the face and head (especially behind the ears), which spreads throughout body. The rash consists of small red spots of various sizes, with a tendency to merge, leaving behind dark spots that last for several days, disappearing in the same sequence in which the rash appeared. The diagnosis is confirmed based on characteristic features diseases and detection of specific antibodies in the blood.

There is no specific therapy for childhood infections, so individual symptoms are treated.

When a pregnant woman is infected with the measles virus, the risk of spontaneous miscarriage and premature birth increases.

Despite the fact that the measles virus penetrates the placenta, to date there is no clear evidence of an increased risk of congenital malformations of the fetus when a pregnant woman is infected in the first and second trimester. If a pregnant woman contracts measles before giving birth, the child may be born with a characteristic rash on the oral mucosa and skin. In this case, it is recommended that mother and child stay together in the ward of the observation department and breastfeed the newborn. If a fetus is born without signs of infection, the child is isolated from the mother for the entire period of her illness.

All pregnant women who are in contact with patients with measles and who have not had this infection are prescribed prophylactic administration of anti-measles immunoglobulin intramuscularly at a dose of 0.25 ml/kg of the patient’s body weight during the first 72 hours from the moment of contact.

Women planning a pregnancy who have not previously had measles are immunized with the measles vaccine at least 3 months before the planned pregnancy. Vaccination of pregnant women with measles vaccine is prohibited.

Mumps during pregnancy

Another childhood infection that may be more dangerous to the health of the pregnant woman than to the fetus is mumps.

Mumps is a highly contagious viral disease, rarely encountered during pregnancy, transmitted by airborne droplets and characterized by damage to the salivary glands.

A typical symptom of this disease is pain in the ear, postauricular area, and enlargement of the parotid salivary glands. This disease is also characterized by increased salivation, increased body temperature (38-39ºC), headache and muscle pain.

The diagnosis is confirmed by the typical manifestation of the disease and the detection of specific antibodies to the mumps virus in the patient’s blood.

If a pregnant woman is infected with mumps, there is a risk of developing complications such as inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), mammary glands (), and ovaries (oopharitis), but this risk is not higher than among the general population.

Mumps during pregnancy does not increase the risk of developing birth defects in the fetus.

Prevention of mumps comes down to vaccinating girls against the mumps virus.

After immunization against rubella, measles and mumps, protection lasts for 20 years or more. According to some reports, immunity created by vaccines against these infections lasts for life. In the modern vaccination calendar, the last vaccination against mumps and measles is assumed for girls at 6 years old, against rubella at 13 years old.

Chicken pox during pregnancy

Chickenpox is an infectious disease of a viral nature (the causative agent of the disease is a virus of the herpes virus group). It is also highly contagious and transmitted through airborne droplets.

The disease appears up to 21 days after contact with the patient. Chickenpox in pregnant women begins with the appearance of a rash, which at the beginning is one or two reddish spots, similar to a mosquito bite; most often, the first elements of the rash appear on the skin of the face or abdomen, spreading very quickly (new elements appear every few minutes or hours). The next day, the reddish spots take on the appearance of bubbles filled with transparent contents, the patient is bothered by severe itching, by the end of the first day of the disease, general health worsens, a headache appears, and the body temperature rises (it can reach 40ºC). Symptoms persist while new rashes appear. The severity of a pregnant woman's condition depends on the number of rashes. After a day or two, the blisters open to form ulcers, which then become crusty. A pregnant woman has an increased risk of developing pneumonia.

The diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of a characteristic rash on the patient’s skin.

Rarely, if infected in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus may develop congenital chickenpox syndrome: underdevelopment of the musculoskeletal system, damage to the central nervous system, eye damage, sometimes infection after 20 weeks of pregnancy leads to the development of severe intrauterine infection of the fetus. In cases of chickenpox, a pregnant woman is strictly monitored, therapeutic and diagnostic measures are carried out, and if developmental defects are detected in the fetus (using ultrasound), the issue of terminating the pregnancy is decided.

Treatment

It should be noted that there is no specific therapy, that is, therapy directed against a specific pathogen, for childhood infections, so individual symptoms are treated.

This set of therapeutic measures includes bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids ( mineral water, fruit drinks), for headaches, elevated temperature The body is prescribed painkillers and antipyretics (for example, paracetamol), vitamin therapy, and expectorants for a dry, obsessive cough.

Mandatory for measles hygiene care behind the skin and mucous membrane of the eyes (a 20% solution of sodium sulfacyl is instilled into the conjunctival sac).

Treatment of skin manifestations of chickenpox consists of reducing itching and preventing the addition of a bacterial infection. The elements of the rash are lubricated with antiseptic solutions ( water solution brilliant green or potassium permanganate), it is necessary to monitor oral hygiene (rinse your mouth with solutions of chlorhexidine, calendula, chamomile after each meal). To reduce itching, antihistamines (for example, suprastin) are prescribed internally. In case of a complicated course of this disease with associated bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics are prescribed.

Pregnancy is a serious period for every woman, during which she is responsible not only for her health, but also for the health of the little person.

Today we will talk about a disease such as measles, which is very dangerous during pregnancy.

What is this disease and how is it transmitted?

Measles is a contagious infectious disease that most often affects young children.

The problem can be prevented through vaccination, which is carried out in childhood However, over time, immunity weakens, and the disease can occur among adults, including pregnant women. It is transmitted by airborne droplets.

Did you know? The measles virus dies in natural environment for 2 hours. Sun rays and ultraviolet radiation also have a detrimental effect on it.

What are the dangers during pregnancy: consequences

Measles at the beginning of pregnancy does not lead to serious defects in the development of the fetus. However, further the likelihood of having a baby with a congenital infection and the consequences of this increases significantly. The mother's lack of immunity to the disease, which is acquired through vaccination or previous exposure to such a disease, leads to the risk of infection.
When this happens during pregnancy, the consequences can be quite serious:

• premature birth;
• stillbirth;
• dementia and other problems with the nervous system.

Important! The mortality rate of newborns with congenital measles infection before antibiotics is started is 50%.

Symptoms

Distinctive feature Measles during pregnancy is that during the first time after infection the body does not react to the virus in any way. However, then, after approximately 14 days, the following symptoms actively manifest:

• high temperature up to 40 °C;
• headache;
• strong ;
• decreased appetite;
• nasal congestion or discharge of mucus and pus;
• inflammation in the eyes and mouth;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• the appearance of skin rashes;
• formation of small spots white in the mouth.

Diagnostics

The symptoms of measles are so characteristic that most often it is enough to interview the patient. However, sometimes there are cases when the picture of symptoms is atypical: this can happen in people who were vaccinated quite a long time ago, when natural immunity is still present, but already weak.

In this case, the doctor writes out an appointment for a special blood test, which will determine the presence or absence of antibodies. This will help determine whether the expectant mother has the disease, but you can find out whether the baby is infected or not only after childbirth.

Important! To avoid complications and consequences, you need to immediately consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear, and not self-medicate.

How to treat in pregnant women

Only a doctor can prescribe correct and comprehensive therapy for pregnant women. The initial goal is to relieve symptoms. Most often, treatment consists of the following points:

• inpatient treatment with bed rest;
• Drink plenty of fluids - more than 2 liters clean water in a day;
• the first week of intramuscular injection of immunoglobulin;
• carry out inhalations;
• the temperature is relieved with antipyretics in the dosage prescribed by the doctor;
• take mineral complexes;
• plant-based antihistamines are prescribed.

If measles is detected during the first 5 days from the moment of infection, passive immunization is allowed in the form of administration of serum globulin in a minimal dosage.

Did you know? With measles, a person has photophobia, so in the room where the patient is kept, it is recommended to carefully close the curtains.

Prevention and vaccination when planning pregnancy

Everyone knows that a person gets measles only once in his life: after recovery, he develops immunity to this disease for life. If before planning a pregnancy a woman was not sick or was not vaccinated, doctors recommend that this be done. Vaccinations after pregnancy are strictly prohibited, since the vaccine is a virus that is quite aggressive towards the mother and the unborn baby.
In addition, to protect yourself, it is recommended to strengthen your immune system by taking special vitamin complexes.

As you can see, measles and pregnancy are a rather dangerous combination that requires immediate consultation with a doctor to prescribe an appropriate treatment method, which will help avoid possible problems both with the health of the expectant mother and the child.