Infections to be aware of during pregnancy

There are a number of infections that can affect you when you’re pregnant. It’s a good idea to be aware of these as there are steps you can take to reduce your chance of getting some of them.

Influenza in pregnancy

Influenza (flu) is a really infectious disease caused by the influenza virus that causes symptoms such as a sore throat, a headache, chills, aches and pains in your muscles, and extreme tiredness.

You are more likely to get seriously ill from the flu if you are pregnant you can also cause problems for your baby, such as you going into labour and giving birth too soon or being born with a low birth weight. It’s possible that it may even lead to stillbirth. But don’t worry, there is a vaccination to reduce your chances of getting it.

If you get pregnant in the flu season in autumn / winter/ early spring , your midwife will offer you the flu vaccination.

You can have it at any point in your pregnancy right up until your due date. As the vaccine is modified every year to protect you against the latest strains of the virus you should repeat the vaccination, even if you received one last year

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

CMV is a common viral infection that is not usually harmful but can cause problems in babies if you catch it for the first time while pregnant. If you are pregnant and work with children or have young children you are more at risk of catching it

Symptoms of CMV include a raised temperature, a sore throat and swollen glands, and your muscles will feel sore.

If an infection is passed to your baby, it can cause a range of problems, such as hearing loss, visual impairment or blindness, learning difficulties and epilepsy.

There isn’t a treatment for CMV in pregnancy. Simple hygiene measures such as washing your hands with soap and hot water, regularly washing baby toys and avoiding using glasses or sharing food with young children can help prevent the infection being passed on.

If you have flu-like symptoms in pregnancy, always contact your GP.

Chickenpox in pregnancy

Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes a blister-like rash on your skin. It is very infectious and you can catch it by being in close contact with someone who has it. It is estimated 9 out of 10 adults in the UK have had chicken-pox by the age of 15 and are not at risk of catching it during pregnancy as they are immune to the illness. However, if you have not had chicken pox and become infected during pregnancy, it can be dangerous for you and your baby

Complications of the illness in pregnant women, such as pneumonia and encephalitis (brain inflammation), can be life- threatening but with treatment are thankfully rare.

Chicken pox can also affect your baby but the risk of complications occurring is low and the majority of pregnant women who get chickenpox recover, with no harmful effects to the baby. 

If you catch chicken pox before 28 weeks there’s a small risk that your baby could develop fetal varicella syndrome- where baby’s eyes, brain, limbs and skin may be damaged.

Infection in the later stages of pregnancy can lead to premature birth or your baby could be born with chicken pox which can be very serious.

Most people are immune to chickenpox from having it as a child, but if you don’t know whether you have had chicken pox and you have had contact with someone with the illness speak to your GP right away. You will be tested to see if you are immune to chickenpox and if you are not, they will give you immunoglobulin (a special preparation of antibodies taken from the plasma of blood donors) to reduce your chance of developing the illness.

If you do catch chickenpox while you are pregnant, your treatment will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are. You may be offered an antiviral medicine called aciclovir, which doesn’t cure chickenpox, but lessens the severity of symptoms and will help you from developing complications.

If you have developed chickenpox, there's no treatment to prevent your baby getting the illness before birth. After birth doctors will advise you if your baby would benefit from immunoglobulin treatment to reduce their chance of getting chicken pox. If your newborn baby develops chicken pox antiviral treatment with aciclovir will be given.

If you develop a rash in pregnancy always seek medical attention.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects your liver. You can get infected with hepatitis B from contact with an infected person's blood or other body fluids. Many people with hepatitis B don’t show any signs of illness but can be carriers and may infect others. Since you may not know that you have been infected, you will be offered a blood test at your booking visit to check. If you are hepatitis B positive you will be seen by a liver specialist who will advise you on your treatment options.

As you could pass on the virus to your baby in the wombwhich can lead to long term infection and liver damage, your baby will be vaccinated to greatly reduce their chance of picking up the illness. Starting within 24 hours of birth, your baby will receive six vaccinations spread over their first year.

Listeriosis in pregnancy

Listeriosis is caused by an infection with bacteria called listeria. The infection is rare, but it can cause serious problems, such as miscarriage, if you get infected while you’re pregnant. You can get it from eating and drinking things that may contain listeria bacteria, such as soft cheeses, like camembert and brie, pậté, unpasteurised milk and undercooked food. Therefore it’s best to avoid these foods while you’re pregnant. Listeriosis can also be caught from lambing, so if you’re pregnant avoid contact with farm animals that are giving birth or have recently done so.

If you do get infected, symptoms include flu-like symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea. If you suspect you may have picked up the illness contact your GP at once. A blood test can confirm the infection and your doctor can treat you with antibiotics

Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy

This is a parasitic infection you can catch through contact with cat poo and can also be found in soil-grown vegetables, undercooked meat and milk and cheeses which are unpasteurised, depending on the stage of your pregnancy, the infection can cause a miscarriage or potentially damage your baby’s brain and other organs, particularly their eyes. Most women have had the infection before they become pregnant and are immune.

Toxoplasma may cause few symptoms but you may get a mild flu-like illness.

If you are concerned you have put yourself at risk or have symptoms, speak to your GP. Even if you catch toxoplasmosis when you’re pregnant it does not mean that your baby will be affected. A blood test can confirm if you have the infection but further tests are needed to tell if your baby is infected.

Antibiotic treatment is available to reduce the risk of your baby becoming infected. To prevent catching toxoplasma, always wear gloves while handling cat litter trays and wash your hands afterwards. Better still, relinquish this task to others while you are pregnant.

Whooping cough in pregnancy

Whooping cough, named after the characteristic whoops that happen during bouts of coughing, can be a serious infection in babies, who are most at risk of catching it. It can lead to pneumonia and permanent brain damage in young babies, and can even be fatal.

While you are pregnant, you will be offered you a vaccination against the infection. Make sure you get it, ideally when you are between 16 and 32 weeks pregnant, although if you have missed it, you can still have it up to when you go into labour. After you have the vaccination, you will pass the antibodies you develop against whooping cough on to your baby through your placenta, which will help protect them until they are old enough to have their own vaccination starting when they are two months of age.

Rubella

Rubella is rare in the UK because there’s a vaccination programme against measles, mumps and rubella. All adults should have received two doses of the MMR vaccine in childhood.Your GP can advise you if you received both doses.

The main symptom of rubella is a red or pink rash, which starts behind your ears and spreads to your head, neck and body.The virus can make you feel slightly unwell, or you may not even notice it.

Rubella, if caught during the first three months of pregnancy, can cause miscarriage and serious birth defects, such as deafness, blindness, and heart problems.Unfortunately, there is no treatment for rubella.

If you develop any rash in pregnancy, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. A blood test will tell whether you have picked up the illness.

Slapped cheek syndrome in pregnancy

This is a viral infection that causes a characteristic red rash on the face.Around six in 10 adults are already immune to the virus and will not catch it again.

If you catch the virus during the first 20 weeks of your pregnancy, it increases the risk of miscarriage and a condition called hydrops where your baby retains fluid, and can develop heart failure and anaemia.If you catch it, you may not have the rash but could have a sore throat, fever and headache.

If you have contact with someone with slapped cheek or have symptoms, see your GP or midwife as a blood test can tell whether you have the condition. If you test positive, your baby will be monitored with ultrasound scans and may need a blood transfusion while still in your womb.

Zika Virus in pregnancy

Zika is a virus that is spread by mosquitoes, and it’s thought to cause serious birth defects if you catch it when you’re pregnant. It can cause your baby to be born with an abnormally small head, which can be associated with abnormal brain development. No vaccine or drug treatment is available to prevent Zika virus infection.

Most people don’t get any symptoms from the Zika virus or have a mild flu-like illness with fever, sore red eyes, headache, muscle pains and a rash.

Zika does not naturally occur in the UK. If you are planning to travel to South or Central America, the Caribbean, south or southeast Asia, Africa or the Pacific region, seek travel health advice ideally before you book your trip and certainly 4-6 weeks before travel. You may be advised to avoid non-essential travel while pregnant to countries where the risk of infection is highest. You can also check out www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries opens in a new tab/window to see if there is a risk of Zika infection in a particular country.

If you or your partner do travel to a country with a risk of Zika infection then it’s important that you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites by covering up and using appropriate DEET mosquito repellent. You will be advised to use condoms while travelling and throughout your pregnancy as the virus can also be sexually transmitted. When you return to the UK and even if you are well make sure your midwife or doctor knows about your travel so that your pregnancy can be monitored.

If you feel unwell after returning from a country that has a risk of the Zika virus, seek medical advice.

How can I avoid infections in pregnancy?

To lower your chances of getting infection, as well as specific measures for certain infections mentioned above, practice good hygiene measures. Wash your hands often with soap and hot water and try to avoid people who are unwell.

If you have contact with anyone who is ill or who has a rash when you are pregnant, or if you develop symptoms of infection, such as a rash, fever or flu-like symptoms, always consult your GP.