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7th September 2005 Chickenpox warning for pregnant women Pregnant women are being warned to avoid contact with chickenpox if they have not had it before. The Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) says that usually chickenpox does not cause a problem during pregnancy but in a small number of cases it could prove fatal to mother or baby. The journal says that in up to 14 per cent of infections in pregnant women there could be lung problems, with potentially fatal pneumonia in the most severe cases. They also said that up to 1.4 per cent of babies exposed to chickenpox in the first 28 weeks of pregnancy developed a potentially fatal condition called foetal varicella syndrome, which causes skin loss, underdevelopment and reduced birth weight. Dr Ike Iheanacho, editor of DTB, has urged doctors to be aware of the dangers of chickenpox in pregnancy. "It is crucial that healthcare professionals remain alert to the dangers of chickenpox infection during and following pregnancy," he said. "By doing so, they can help to ensure women and their babies receive prompt, appropriate care to tackle and minimise these risks." DTB recommends that women who have not had chickenpox before should seek medical advice if they come into contact with it during pregnancy. Prompt treatment with varicella-zoster immunoglobin (VZIG) can help prevent or reduce the severity of chickenpox and it can also be given to babies who may be at risk. Mothers and babies can also be treated with the antiviral drug aciclovir to limit the impact of chickenpox infections.
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