Chickenpox in pregnancy

Chickenpox in pregnancy can be a serious problem when a woman gets the disease in the first or second semester of pregnancy, as well as in the last 5 days before giving birth.

Generally, depending on the woman's gestational age at the time she gets chickenpox, the baby may be born with low birth weight or with malformations of the arms, legs or brain, for example.

Risks of Chickenpox in Pregnancy

The risks of taking chicken pox during pregnancy depend on the woman's gestational age and include:

To reduce the risk of developing chickenpox complications, the obstetrician may recommend, in some cases, the injection of chickenpox-specific antiviral.

Symptoms of Chickenpox in Pregnancy

The main symptom of chicken pox in pregnancy is the appearance of urticaria on the face and upper body region that spreads to the rest of the body in a few hours. However, other symptoms include:

• Headache;
• Fever above 38ºC;
• Intense itching in the body;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea.

The pregnant woman with chickenpox symptoms should immediately consult the obstetrician following the pregnancy or go to the emergency room to start the appropriate treatment, avoiding serious complications such as dehydration, which can also affect the baby.

Prevention of Chickenpox in Pregnancy

If the woman has not yet had chickenpox, the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid contact with infected patients, as the chicken pox vaccine should not be administered during pregnancy.

See other ways not to get chickenpox in: How to avoid the contagion of the Catapora and How not to take chickenpox from your child.