Paediatric diseases and pregnancy

Rubella and pregnancy

Rubella is one of the infectious diseases that are typically contracted by pre-school children. It is benign in children, but can have serious consequences if a pregnant woman contracts it. In view of the risk of contracting rubella during pregnancy, every expectant mother should have her rubella antibodies tested at the beginning of her pregnancy. Most women of childbearing age have IgG antibodies, as vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella has been recommended since 1985.

Rubella during pregnancy – complications

Infection with rubella during pregnancy leads to serious complications in the form of congenital rubella in the foetus. If the infection occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, the child can develop deafness and eye defects such as congenital cataracts. In addition, the disease causes cardiovascular damage and neurological disorders. It is known that up to 90% of babies develop complications if they are infected in the first 11 weeks of pregnancy.

Rubella during pregnancy – how can it be prevented?

In view of the consequences of rubella during pregnancy, it is advisable to check your immunisation record and antibody levels before becoming pregnant. It is then possible to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella before pregnancy. As the MMR vaccine is a live vaccine, it is necessary to wait about a month after vaccination before trying to get pregnant. As with other infectious diseases, it is important to avoid large clusters of children, especially preschoolers, during early pregnancy.

Pox and pregnancy

Pox is a popular infectious disease among preschool children. A large proportion of the population, especially adults, are not immunised against it, as smallpox vaccination is not a compulsory vaccination. However, many people have been infected in childhood, so that contact with smallpox in adulthood does not lead to a recurrence of the disease. However, it also happens that the expectant mother has never had smallpox and becomes infected during pregnancy.

Pox during pregnancy – complications

Pregnant women have a higher risk of a severe course of the disease than other adults. If the infection occurs in the first half of pregnancy, the child may develop complications such as neurological and skin symptoms or a low birth weight. If the smallpox infection occurs towards the end of pregnancy, the newborn may show symptoms of the disease after birth.

Pox during pregnancy – treatment

A pregnant woman who has been in contact with someone who has pox should go to hospital. If she has never had smallpox before, she will be given immunoglobulin to protect her from the dangerous complications of pox. In the case of symptomatic smallpox, the expectant mother will be given an antiviral drug, usually acyclovir in the appropriate dose.

Parvovirus and pregnancy

Erythema contagiosum, which is caused by parvovirus B19, is an infectious disease that has recently become increasingly common in pregnant women. It often causes no symptoms in the pregnant woman, but is extremely dangerous for the foetus.

Parvovirus – risks during pregnancy

If parvovirus occurs during pregnancy, one of the signs may be a generalised swelling of the foetus, which becomes visible during an ultrasound scan as a result of anaemia in the baby. If no action is taken, intrauterine necrosis may occur.

Parvovirus during pregnancy – treatment

The disease is diagnosed by detecting antibodies in the mother’s blood. In addition, the maximum systolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery (the so-called MCA PSV) is determined. The treatment of generalised oedema in the course of parvovirus consists of intrauterine blood transfusions.

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