Chicken Pox (Varicella) is a highly contagious viral disease which can lead to serious health risks especially during pregnancy. Chickenpox manifests itself with an itchy rash, small blisters and then scabs. Other symptoms can be: bleeding rash, breathing problems, drowsiness, vomiting and sometimes vaginal bleeding.
Many years after suffering Chickenpox, many find that they develop Shingles – a painful band of short-lived blisters.
Chicken Pox is more severe when contracted in adulthood. If contracted during the early stages of pregnancy, the infection can lead to miscarriage. Chickenpox is responsible for low birth weight and birth defects, such as limb abnormalities. It is better to visit your health practitioner before contemplating pregnancy if you have not had Chicken Pox to determine if you are immune.
If exposed during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend receiving injections of globulin to prevent Chickenpox or certainly reducing its severity. One serious complication for a pregnant woman is potential to develop pneumonia.
For a fetus, Chickenpox developing in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy can run the risk of birth defects such as low birth weight, problems with brain, eyes, legs and arms.
If Chicken Pox is developed during the latter stages of pregnancy, the subsequent delivery may have the baby being treated with an immune globulin to prevent or reduce the illness.
Remember, if you are considering pregnancy and you have not had Chickenpox, ask your doctor for the Chicken Pox vaccine.
Wait for at least 4 weeks before attempting conception.