Chickenpox is often seen as a mild childhood illness, but when it strikes during pregnancy, it can pose serious risks to both the mother and the baby. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, understanding how dangerous chickenpox can be during this time is crucial for your health and your baby’s well-being.
What Is Chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It typically leads to an itchy rash with fluid-filled blisters, along with symptoms like fever, headache, tiredness, and loss of appetite. While most children recover quickly without complications, chickenpox can be more severe in adults, especially pregnant women.
Why Is Chickenpox More Dangerous During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy changes your immune system, making it harder to fight off infections like chickenpox. This can lead to more severe illness and complications.
Risks to the Mother
– Pneumonia: Pregnant women with chickenpox have a higher risk of developing pneumonia, a serious lung infection. This complication occurs in about 10% of pregnant women who get chickenpox and can be life-threatening in some cases.
– Other Complications: Though rare, chickenpox can cause inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), liver (hepatitis), heart muscle (myocarditis), kidneys, pancreas, joints, and eyes during pregnancy.
– Increased Severity in Later Pregnancy: The risk of severe complications like pneumonia increases after 20 weeks of pregnancy, especially in women who smoke or have lung disease.
Risks to the Baby
The impact of chickenpox on the baby depends largely on when during pregnancy the mother contracts the virus.
– First 20 Weeks: If chickenpox occurs in the first half of pregnancy, especially between 8 and 20 weeks, the baby is at risk of developing congenital varicella syndrome (CVS). This rare condition can cause serious birth defects such as:
– Scarring on the skin
– Limb abnormalities (underdeveloped arms or legs)
– Eye problems
– Brain abnormalities including microcephaly (small head size)
– Gastrointestinal issues
– Low birth weight and growth retardation
– Premature birth
The overall risk of CVS if chickenpox develops in the first 20 weeks is about 0.5% to 2%, making it rare but serious.
– Late Pregnancy (2 Weeks Before to 2 Weeks After Birth): If the mother contracts chickenpox close to delivery, the baby can develop neonatal varicella, a potentially life-threatening infection. Immediate medical treatment improves the chances of survival.
– Between 20 and 36 Weeks: The baby might become infected with the virus but often won’t develop symptoms immediately. The virus can remain dormant and potentially cause shingles during childhood.
How Common Is Chickenpox in Pregnancy?
Chickenpox in pregnancy is quite rare. In the UK, for example, only about 3 in every 1000 pregnant women catch chickenpox. Most pregnant women are immune because they either had chickenpox as children or were vaccinated.
How Can You Protect Yourself and Your Baby?
– Check Your Immunity: Before or early in pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider about your chickenpox immunity. A simple blood test can determine if you are protected.
– Vaccination: The varicella vaccine is highly effective in preventing chickenpox and its complications. However, it is not safe to receive during pregnancy. Women who are not immune should get vaccinated before becoming pregnant.
– Avoid Exposure: Stay away from people who have chickenpox or shingles, especially if you are not immune.
– Post-Exposure Treatment: If you are exposed to chickenpox during pregnancy and are not immune, your doctor may give you varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) to reduce the risk of severe illness. This treatment is most effective if given before symptoms appear.
What If You Get Chickenpox While Pregnant?
If you develop chickenpox during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider immediately. They may prescribe antiviral medications to reduce the severity of the illness and monitor you closely for complications like pneumonia. Early treatment and careful medical care significantly improve outcomes for both mother and baby.
Chickenpox during pregnancy can be serious but is preventable with proper precautions. Knowing your immunity status and seeking prompt medical care if exposed or infected are key to protecting yourself and your baby.