Can shingles in pregnant women affect the fetus?
Apr 09, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
Pregnant women with herpes zoster are usually at risk of affecting the fetus. When a pregnant woman is infected with the herpes zoster virus, her sleep, mood, and appetite are often affected, leading to maternal malnutrition, which may hinder the fetus's absorption of nutrients and result in fetal developmental impairment. Additionally, if postherpetic neuralgia occurs as a complication, it may trigger abnormal uterine contractions, increasing the risks of preterm labor and miscarriage.
Shingles in pregnant women usually affect the fetus.
Shingles is an acute infectious skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which causes severe inflammation in the affected nerves and skin. If a pregnant woman is infected with the varicella-zoster virus, it typically has certain impacts on the fetus. During disease outbreaks, the pregnant woman's sleep, mood, and appetite are often affected. When the mother suffers from malnutrition, the fetus's absorption of nutrients may be impaired, leading to poor fetal development. Additionally, if the pregnant woman develops postherpetic neuralgia, it may cause abnormal uterine contractions, increasing the risk of premature labor and miscarriage.
When shingles occurs during pregnancy, prompt medical evaluation is necessary, and appropriate treatment should be selected based on examination results.
