Why measles and rubella are dangerous during pregnancy

If you are in a position, then any illness gives a double risk - both for you and for the child.

Rubella

Of all the so-called "childhood" infections, rubella is the most dangerous. For up to 12 weeks, doctors may ask about termination of pregnancy if the mother has rubella.

Why is rubella dangerous? The emergence of pathologies of fetal development. The disease can lead to miscarriage, pregnancy fading, complications in childbirth.

If the fetus survives and the baby is born, it may have congenital rubella. This can be accompanied by blindness, deafness, heart defects.

But there is a widespread theory among doctors that nature most often acts on the principle of "all or nothing": the disease either leads to the death of the embryo in the early stages, or the child will be born healthy and without pathologies.

In any case, before making fateful decisions, you need the conclusion of several independent specialists. And remember, the best treatment is prevention.

Rubella symptoms: fever (may be accompanied by a runny nose, cough), enlarged lymph nodes, pink rash all over the body.

If you have been in contact with an infected, you need to urgently see a doctor and get tested for antibodies in dynamics. Based on its results, you can be sent for a detailed ultrasound scan and a series of tests.

Measles

Why is measles dangerous? The human body is very susceptible to this virus. Measles can be caught even from a person who was indoors 2 hours before you.

Before the 16th week, measles leads to miscarriage or missed pregnancies in 1 in 5 cases among infected mothers. It can also cause serious damage to the nervous system, a low level of intellectual development.

If the mother gets sick shortly before giving birth, then the child can pick up the virus in the birth canal. It is not fatal, but dangerous and involves antibiotic treatment and a number of resuscitation measures.

Measles symptoms: high fever, cough, watery eyes, runny nose, reddish-brown rash (appears after a few days).

Prevention of measles and rubella in pregnant women

1. Vaccination. Even at the planning stage of pregnancy, it is imperative to pass an antibody test. If necessary, get vaccinated against measles and / or rubella.

Rubella vaccine can no longer be administered during pregnancy.

For measles, pregnant women can be given measles immunoglobulin - but only within 72 hours after contact with an infected person.

This will help if you know for sure that you have been in contact with infected measles and immediately seek help.

Symptoms appear approximately 2 weeks after exposure. That is, by the time you already have a rash, it will be too late to inject immunoglobulin.

2. Minimum contacts. If you did not have rubella and measles in childhood and did not have time to get vaccinated, then all that remains is protect yourself as much as possible from possible contacts with the infected.

These diseases mainly affect children. Try not to go to kindergartens, schools, public events, or any place with many children. Use public transport as little as possible.

If you have an older child attending kindergarten or school, watch for outbreaks of rubella or measles. If you were, send the child to live with his grandmother for a while.

Remember that a child can be a carrier of the virus even without showing symptoms, so it is worthwhile to be on the safe side.

If you are sick