Why Shingles And Pregnancy Is So Dangerous
Expectant mothers should have concerns about shingles and pregnancy. Shingles or herpes zoster and the chickenpox or varicella, are both caused by varicella zoster virus, known as VZV. If a pregnant woman comes in contact with either of these diseases shortly after she conceives, the baby can either be born with a birth defect or it will be at high risk for getting shingles. These infections can be spread to through the mother’s blood stream and infect the fetus. They can also be spread when the mother is in labor or during delivery. Shingles and pregnancy is extremely dangerous for the baby and can be a serious threat to the baby’s future health.
Most people acquire chicken pox when they are smaller children and usually only suffer from one bout of the condition. But after a person has the disease, it hides within the nervous system and never fully leaves the body. But reactivation of the disease is possible under certain conditions. People suffering with excessive stress or people who have auto immune system difficulties like AIDS are prime candidates for a resurgence of this disease. People who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy can also suffer with a reoccurrence of the varicella virus. But you cannot get genital herpes from the herpes zoster virus. This includes sexually transmitted diseases and mouth sores.
A reoccurrence of shingles usually only happens to people who are over the age of 60. But shingles and pregnancy can be extremely dangerous for women who have never had the chickenpox. If this is the case, it is recommended that the expectant mother should be very careful about who she comes in contact with. Shingles and chickenpox are highly contagious and this is mainly how this disease is easily spread. But once the symptoms start to recede, the diseases cannot be spread. There are many tell tale symptoms that indicate a varicella infection.
The symptoms of the herpes zoster virus are a burning, painful sensation on the skin. This is followed by a rash and painful blisters. Normally, shingles can be seen on the abdomen, the back area, under the breasts and up toward the neck area. The nerves that reach from the spinal column are where the blisters and rash can be seen and the rash will run along the path of this nerve. Over time, the blisters will pop and ooze a clear fluid. The blisters will dry out and crust over. This entire process can take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks to finish. Many people only experience excessive pain for a minimal time when they have shingles. But other people can feel constant pain throughout the process, even if there are no rashes or blistering present.
Shingles and pregnancy can become even more dangerous because there are complications that can arise from this disease. For example, if a person scratches the blisters and bacteria are allowed to enter the wound, a serious skin condition called cellulitis can occur. When a person suffers from cellulitis, the skin becomes inflamed and red and painful blisters quickly occur over a matter of hours. If the problem isn’t addressed in a timely manner, the tissues may also start to die off.
Another complication from shingles and pregnancy is the risk of blindness or some vision loss. Occasionally, shingles can move to the face area and if they are seen on the forehead and this raises the risk for vision problems, especially if the blisters form and pop around the eye. This can also happen to new born babies, as they are delivered.
It is not a rare occurrence for a person to have shingles. But they should be checked out by a doctor to avoid any complications and to have their symptoms eased by taking prescription medication.