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:
| Gestational age | Risks of Chickenpox for Baby | Complications of chicken pox in baby |
| Less than 13 weeks | The risk of reaching the baby is very low, but there may be Congenital Varicella Syndrome in the baby in some cases. | Scarring of the skin, arm and leg hypotrophy, vision problems or mental retardation. |
| Between 13 and 20 weeks | It is the most risky period for the baby. | Most babies are born with low birth weight and developmental delay. |
| Between 21 and 36 weeks | The risk of affecting the baby is very low. | Some babies may have herpes in the first year of life. |
| After 37 weeks |
The risk of drinking from being infected is high when the mother has chickenpox within 5 days before delivery until 48 hours later. | The baby may be able to get chickenpox during or after delivery, and should be admitted to the hospital for treatment. |
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.
