Shingles is related to chicken pox, and is a nuisance to anyone who contracts the virus. The situation is especially stressful for a pregnant woman, as shingles can harm the baby before and during birth. Such side effects can include illness, deformation or even death. However, serious side effects are rare, and may be prevented.
.The Facts
Shingles, formally known as herpes-zoster, is the second stage of chicken pox. Not everyone will develop shingles, but it is exclusive to those who have had chicken pox already earlier in their lifetime. In fact, chicken pox and shingles are both derived from the same virus, called varicella-zoster. The chance of contracting shingles becomes greater with age.
Identification
Shingles is an itchy, painful rash that spreads exclusively on one side of the body. The virus is contagious to those who have had the chicken pox and to those who have not. Individuals who have not had the chicken pox yet and come into contact with exposed shingles sores will develop chicken pox.
Early Pregnancy
According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, if a pregnant woman catches the varicella virus anytime before the fetus is 20 weeks old, the baby has a one in 100 risk of developing birth defects. These defects may include cataracts, an abnormal development of the head and brain, mental retardation and short limbs. Contracting chicken pox before 30 weeks of gestation may also lead to birth malformations, according to the National Institutes of Health. Another risk during early pregnancy is the development of varicella pneumonia as a result of shingles. Not only is it a life-threatening condition for the mother, but if she has the illness before 24 weeks of gestation, it is fatal to the fetus.
Late Pregnancy
Mothers who catch shingles in the last stages of pregnancy (five to 21 days before birth) give their baby a high risk of developing shingles before the age of five. In some cases, the mother is able to provide enough antibodies to the baby during birth to prevent this. The biggest danger is when a mother contracts the virus at the time of birth. The mother's immune system doesn't have time to develop a defense and pass it to her baby. A newborn's immune system is still relatively weak at this point. If a newborn develops chicken pox as a result, it is likely fatal. In order to help prevent death, the newborn is given a shot made of antibodies from the blood of individuals who recently had shingles or chicken pox, and recovered, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Prevention/Solution
Vaccines for chicken pox and shingles should not be taken by pregnant women. However, if a non-pregnant woman is in childbearing age, it is recommended that she get a chicken pox vaccine if she has not yet contracted the virus. Shingles vaccines are exclusive to individuals who are over the age of 60.
.By Kristeen Mandak
eHow Contributing Writer
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1 comment:
6. nice blog……. You have lots of interesting points in your blog with a deep understanding.. Shingles are truly painful and this forces patients to seek treatments. It can cause long lasing complications on the sufferer. If it occurs on face, it can damage your eyes. Shingles of eye can cause scarring which if not treated on time can damage your vision. It can also cause glaucoma which is an eye disease which results into complete blindness in later stages of life
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