Contracting Chickenpox

When most people think of chicken pox, they think of little kids with itchy red spots all over them. However, if a woman escapes chickenpox as a child, there is a chance that she can catch the varicella virus while she is pregnant. Because of the close connection between a mother and her unborn baby, this infection can contribute to health problems in the child as well.

The timing of chickenpox during pregnancy can change the way that the virus affects your baby. Sometimes, developing chickenpox during a pregnancy can result in birth defects to the child. Also, some research has shown that the varicella virus during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and even stillbirth.

If you contract chickenpox during the third trimester of pregnancy, you will transfer your immunities to your child. However, if you come down with the disease five days before birth to two days after birth, your body does not have sufficient time to pass the immunities to your child.

Doctors should recognize the health risks to your baby if you catch chickenpox just before delivery. Babies can be given a vaccine to help lessen the severity of the pox if they are born with it. If your child is delivered with neonatal varicella, or develops the disease soon after birth, it can be life-threatening. Doctors should give the child medication such as acyclovir to help fight the virus.

Contact Us

Newborns are virtually defenseless against infections such as neonatal varicella virus. If your doctor fails to recognize and protect against an infection in your newborn, serious side effects and birth injuries can occur. For more information on newborn infections and other birth injury topics, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.