MATERNAL VARICELLA INFECTION

Chicken-pox, caused by varicella-zoster virus, is rare in pregnancy. The frequency of congenital abnormalities in exposed fetuses is considered to be low (1). Infection during the first, second and third trimester has been reported to cause congenital varicella abnormalities (2).

• Varicella embryopathy (VE) - fetal infection with varicella zoster in the first, second or third trimester.
• Estimated incidence 5-7 cases per 10,000 pregnancies (3).
• Up to 2% of fetuses infected between 8 and 20 wks may exhibit pathogenetic effects (3).
• Varicella of the newborn (VON) - a dermatologic and sometimes disseminated disease occurring in infants exposed in the last 20 days of intrauterine life. May be lethal in up to 31% of infants, especially if exposure occurs within 5 days of delivery (4).

• Risk of infection / Pathophysiology.
• Clinical manifestations.
• Sonographic features of varicella embryopathy.
• Clinical management.

REFERENCES

1. Oxman MN, Richman DD, Spector SA. Management at delivery of mother and infant when herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, hepatitis or tuberculosis have occurred during pregnancy. Curr TOP Infect Dis 1983;4:224.
2. Burrow GN, Ferris TF. Medical complications during pregnancy. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders 1988:378.
3. Massimo M, Arioni C, Bellini C et.al. Sever hydrocephalus associated with congenital varicella syndrome. Can Assoc Med J 2003;168(5):561-563.
4. Gilstrap LC III, Sebastian F. Infections in pregnancy. New York, Wiley-Liss 1990:177.
5. Fox GN, Strangarity JW. Varicella-zoster infections in pregnancy. Am Fam Physician 1989;39:89.