Chicken Pox (Varicella-zoster virus)
Chickenpox during pregnancy can cause complications, both for you and your baby. It's estimated that only 3 in every 1,000 women (0.3%) will catch chickenpox during pregnancy and nine out of ten pregnant women (90%) in the UK are already immune. Chicken pox is caused by a highly contagious virus called varicella-zoster virus. The first signs of chicken pox are usually a fever and feeling unwell. This is followed by the formation of a watery blisters which can appear anywhere over the body and itch. After a few days the blisters burst, crust over and then heal which may take up to 2 weeks. Chicken pox is contagious from 48 hours before the rash appears and until all the blisters have dried out and crusted over. You can catch chicken pox by direct physical contact, face to face contact, contaminated objects and surfaces and droplets in the air from someone coughing or sneezing. Where possible it is advised to avoid contact during pregnancy.
If you come in to contact with someone who has chicken pox or shingles and you have had chickenpox, it's extremely unlikely that you will get it again. You don’t need to take any action just monitor closely for any symptoms. You should contact your GP immediately however if a rash does develop. If you have not had chicken pox or are uncertain you should contact your GP. You will be offered a blood test to check your immunity to the virus and maybe given an injection of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG). This is a human blood product which strengthens the immune system for a short time. It does not necessarily prevent chickenpox developing but can make the infection milder. The injection can be given for up to 10 days after you come into contact with chickenpox and before any of your symptoms appear. If you contract chicken pox in pregnancy you can be given an antiviral drug called Aciclovir within 24 hours of the chickenpox rash appearing which will reduce any fever and symptoms, however it is only recommended when you are more than 20 weeks pregnant.
Shingles is related to chickenpox but the symptoms are slightly different. After you have had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body and can become active again later which may cause shingles. Shingles is a patch of itchy blisters on the skin that dry out and crusts over in a few days and can be very painful. If you are immune to chickenpox you do not need to worry. If you are not immune, then the risk of getting chickenpox from someone with shingles present on a covered part of the body is very small. If the shingles is widespread or exposed there is a risk of chickenpox infection to you when the blisters are active and until they are crusted over, you should see your GP for further advice.
The following link will take you to a patient leaflet nationally distributed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, providing further information on chicken pox in pregnancy: