What Happens When You Get Shingles When Pregnant?

Shingles cause a painful skin rash due to a reactivated varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, or chickenpox. Drugs safe to use for shingles in pregnancy include antiviral medications and other over-the-counter medications.

• Shinglesis a painful,blisteringskinrashthat results from reactivation of infection with thevaricella zoster virus(VZV), the virus that causeschickenpox.
• Therashofshinglescan be extremely painful and typically occurs over the area of one nerve.
• Antiviral medications are used to treatshingles. Thesedrugsare safe to use inpregnancy.
• Other medications to manageshinglescan includeacetaminophen(Tylenoland others) forpainrelief orantihistaminesforitching.
• Complications fromshinglesoccur most often in older adults and are less common inpregnantwomen.
• Shinglesinpregnancytypically heals without long-term problems for mother or baby.

• Shingles是一个痛苦的皮肤rashcaused by reactivation of prior infection with the same virus that previously causedchickenpox, known asvaricellazoster virus (VZV).
• VZV belongs to theherpesfamily ofviruses, but it is not the same virus that causesgenital herpesorcold soreson the mouth.
• When a person is infected with VZV in childhood, they typically developchickenpox, but after the illness resolves the VZV remains in a dormant state in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body.
• Under certain circumstances, such as emotionalstress, immune deficiency (fromAIDSorchemotherapy), or withcancer, the virus reactivates and causes the skin and nerve inflammation known asshingles.
• Shingles occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60, but anyone who has ever hadchickenpoxis at risk, includingpregnantwomen.
• It has been estimated that up to 1,000,000 cases of shingles occur each year in the U.S.

Shingles rashes have patches of tiny red blisters.

• Shingles is characterized by clusters of redblistersthat appear on the skin.
• The small, fluid-filled blisters may burst and then crust over.
• The patches of blisters may also appear like a band or a stripe across the skin.

• The hallmark symptom of shingles is a painful, blisteringrash.Painfrom shingles may be severe in intensity.
• Thepain, or a tingling sensation in some cases, may precede the development of the actual rash, making the cause of thepainhard to ascertain.
• Smallblistersform on a red base, and newblisterscontinue to appear for 3 to 5 days.
• The rash follows the path of individual nerves, and typically presents in a band-like pattern on one side of the body.
• After the blisters rupture, they begin to crust over and heal. The entire outbreak from onset to healing takes about 3 to 4 weeks.
• Fever,headache,chills, andnauseacan sometimes accompany the painful skin rash.

• The characteristic rash of shingles typically suggests the diagnosis, and in most cases, no specific diagnostic tests are required.
• In cases in which there is pain but no apparent rash, the diagnosis can be very difficult.
• 实验室测试来检测遗传物质or surface proteins of the VZV can be used in atypical or difficult cases.

Treatment for shingles is generally prescription orover-the-counterantiviral, pain, andantihistaminemedication.

• The prescription antiviral medications typically used to treat shingles are safe to take duringpregnancy. Thesedrugsinclude
  • acyclovir(Zovirax),
  • valacyclovir(Valtrex), or
  • famciclovir(Famvir).
• Antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of the rash if started early (within 72 hours of the appearance of the rash).

• Pain medications, such asacetaminophen, can also be used for pain relief, although these will not affect the progression of the blisters and rash.
• Pregnant women should discuss any pain relief medications with their health care professional.
• Pregnant women should not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) likeibuprofen(Advil,Motrin,Nuprin, etc.) late in the pregnancy.

• Antihistaminessuch asdiphenhydramine(Benadryl) can help reduce any associateditching.
• Other home remedies foritchinginclude oatmeal baths andcalamine lotion.
• Many women find that applying cool washcloths or compresses provides relief as well.
• 保持房颤fected areas covered with clean gauze and wearing loose clothing can help speed healing and prevent secondary infection of the affected skin.

• Postherpetic neuralgiais the most common complication of shingles. This condition develops in about 20% of people who have shingles and is characterized by persistent pain at the affected site after the rash has disappeared. It goes away by 4 months after the initial rash in most people. This complication is less common in pregnant women since it rarely occurs in people under 40 years of age.Postherpetic neuralgiais more common in people over 60 who do not receive treatment for shingles.
• Shingles that affect the eye is another uncommon condition. It is essential to see a doctor if you develop shingles around the eye area. In very rare cases, the virus can spread to the brain and membranes around the central nervous system.
• Other potential complications includehearingor balance problems andweaknessof the muscles on one side of the face, known asRamsay Hunt syndrome.All of these complications, likepostherpetic neuralgia, are more common in older adults and affect pregnant women less commonly.
• Sometimes, secondarybacterial infectionsdevelop at the site of the rash. These can be treated with antibiotics, and antibiotics can be chosen that are safe for use in pregnancy.

Most cases of shingles heal without a risk of serious complications or long-term problems.

• If you have hadchickenpoxin the past, you have been infected with the VZV and there is no absolute way to prevent shingles. However, you cannot catch shingles from someone else who has shingles or chickenpox if you have had chickenpox or have immunity to the chickenpox virus.
• However, pregnant women who have not had chickenpox may catch chickenpox from someone with shingles or chickenpox.
• Chickenpox infection during pregnancy can be dangerous to the unborn baby,so it is important to avoid contact with people with shingles or chickenpox if you have not had the condition or thevaccine.
• Children in the US today are typically vaccinated against the VZV (chickenpox vaccine).
• A vaccine to prevent shingles (Zostavax) is also available that reduces the incidence of shingles by about 50%, but the vaccine cannot be taken by pregnant women. Women who receive theZostavaxvaccine should wait at least 3 months before attempting pregnancy.