‣ hassania ettaik Group 7 mi6

17 mars 2023

Influenza and
chickenpox During
pregnancy
Influenza
What is flu in pregnancy? Influenza (flu) is a common respiratory
infection that mostly occurs in winter.

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17 mars 2023

caused by a virus that easily travels from person to person. When

someone with the flu coughs, sneezes or speaks, the virus spreads
through the air and on surfaces.
Flu during pregnancy is more likely to cause severe illness than
flu in nonpregnant people. Pregnant people who get the flu are
also more likely to be hospitalized for treatment. If you're
pregnant and have the flu or flu-like symptoms, see your
healthcare provider.
Who is more likely to get the flu?
You’re at higher risk of flu during pregnancy than when you’re
not pregnant. That’s because pregnancy naturally suppresses your
immune Systems, which is your body’s defense against illness.
This suppression increases your risk of infections, including the
flu.
Pregnant people who aren't vaccinated against the flu have a
higher chance of getting it compared to vaccinated pregnant
people. Studies show that flu vaccines lower the risk of flu
infection in pregnant people by 50%

What causes the flu in pregnancy?

The same virus causes the flu in pregnant and nonpregnant
people. The flu virus infects your lungs, nose and throat, causing
respiratory symptoms similar to a cold. You can get the flu by
inhaling the virus through the air or by touching something that
has the flu virus on it.

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The flu is contagious beginning one day before symptoms start

and five to seven days after feeling sick. That means you can
spread the flu to others before you even know you’re

What are the symptoms of flu during pregnancy?

The most common symptoms of flu while pregnant include:
* Chills.
* Dry cough.
* Headache.
* Loss of appetite.
* Nasal congestion.
* Muscle aches.
* Runny nose.
* Sore throat.
* Sudden onset of moderate to high fever.
* Fatigue.

How is flu during pregnancy diagnosed?

To diagnose the flu, your healthcare provider may use a flu
(Influenza) test such as:
* Rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT): This test shows results
in 10 to 15 minutes.
* Rapid molecular assay: This test shows results in 15 to 20
minutes.
Your healthcare provider will wipe the inside of your nose or the
back of your throat with a long cotton swab. The test should be
quick and painless.

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How is the flu treated during pregnancy?

When diagnosed early, your healthcare provider may prescribe an
antiviral medication. While antivirals don’t cure the flu, they can
stop symptoms from getting worse. Many providers prefer the
oral antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu® ) for pregnant people. It has
the most studies verifying its safety.
Talk to your provider about other medications you can safely take
during pregnancy. These may include:
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol® ) to reduce flu symptoms, especially
fever.
* Dextromethorphan (Robitussin® -DM or Delsym® ),
guaifenesin (Mucinex® ) or cough drops to relieve respiratory
symptoms.

Chickenpox
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is an infection caused by a virus called the varicella-
zoster virus. Chickenpox used to be a common infection,
especially in children under age 12. It’s less common now
because a vaccine is available to help prevent it. A vaccine is
medicine that makes you immune to diseases.
Chickenpox usually isn’t dangerous in children. But some people
are at higher risk for complications from chickenpox, including
pregnant people and newborns.

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The chances of getting chickenpox during pregnancy are low.

Most pregnant people are immune to chickenpox because they’ve
had the infection before or they’ve been vaccinated against it.
Talk with your health care provider to make sure you’re immune
to chickenpox before you get pregnant or early in pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?

Chickenpox causes an itchy rash that turns into blisters and then
scabs. The rash usually starts on the chest, back, and face and
spreads all over the body. The rash appears about 10 to 21 days
after you’re infected and can last 5 to 10 days.
Other symptoms can include fever, headache, being tired and not
being hungry. These symptoms may appear 1 to 2 days before the
rash
Can chickenpox during pregnancy cause problems for you and
your baby?
Yes. Having chickenpox during pregnancy can increase your risk
of getting pneumonia and can even be life-threatening.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be very serious. The
symptoms of pneumonia include cough, chest pain when you
breathe or cough, fever, fatigue (being very tired) and shortness of
breath.
Chickenpox during pregnancy can cause these problems for your
baby:
If you get chickenpox during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy,
your baby may have an increased risk for congenital varicella

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syndrome. This is a rare group of serious birth defects that can

cause:
* Scars on the skin
* Problems with the arms, legs, brain and eyes
* Gastrointestinal complications
* Low birthweight. This is when a baby is born weighing less
than 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

How is chickenpox diagnosed?

Your provider can tell you if you have chickenpox by doing a
physical exam. Your provider may do a blood test or take a swab
of the rash and send it to a laboratory for testing to be sure it’s
chickenpox.
How is chickenpox treated during pregnancy?
If you get chickenpox during pregnancy, your provider may give
you an antiviral medicine such as acyclovir or valacyclovir. An
antiviral is a medicine to treat infections caused by viruses. These
medicines are safe to use during pregnancy. They work best when
given within 24 hours of the chickenpox rash appearing.
If you have chickenpox and develop signs or symptoms of
pneumonia, your provider may want you to stay in the hospital
and be treated with acyclovir through an IV (through a needle into
a vein).

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