Pregnancy & Cytomegalovirus Rubella Chicken Pox Shingles.What is cytomegalovirus?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpes-virus family. It is transmitted in humans by contact with saliva or urine. Day-care centers are a common source of the infection. CMV can also be passed by sexual contact.
How can cytomegalovirus affect me?
Most CMV infections do not cause any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they include a fever, sore throat and joint pain.
Can cytomegalovirus affect my growing baby?
Yes, it can cause various problems in an infant, including low birthweight, eye problems, jaundice and anemia. RubellaI've heard about a pregnant woman getting rubella. What is it
exactly?
Rubella, also called German measles, is a viral infection that causes few problems in the nonpregnant woman. It is more serious during pregnancy, especially in the 1st trimester.
What are the symptoms of rubella?
The most common symptom of rubella is a skin rash. You may also experience flulike symptoms.
How can rubella affect my growing baby?
Rubella infection during pregnancy can increase the rate of miscarriage and cause problems in the baby, especially deafness and heart defects.
Chicken Pox I’ve been exposed to chicken pox. Can they hurt me or my baby?
If you have had chicken pox before, it shouldn't be a problem now. If you haven't had chicken pox, exposure during the 1st trimester can result in birth defects, such as heart problems. Exposure close to delivery (within 1 week] can result in chicken pox in the baby.
How can chicken pox affect me?
Adults don’t tolerate chicken pox as well as children do. Extraction of the disease can result in painful lesions, high fever and severe flu like symptoms.
I'm not sure if I've had chicken pox before. What can I do?
Avoid exposure to the disease, if possible.
ShinglesI just read about shingles. What is it exactly?
Shingles (sometimes called varicella-zoster) is in the herpes virus and chicken pox family. It may remain latent for years, only to be reactivated.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Pain is the main symptom; a rash or lesions may accompany this.
How can shingles affect me?
If you get shingles while you're pregnant, it can cause severe pain and even breathing problems. Fortunately, it is rare.
How can shingles affect my growing baby?
It may cause birth defects if you are exposed early in pregnancy. If you are exposed within 2 weeks of delivery, the baby may catch the disease.
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