During Pregnancy the Syphilis Bacteria Can Infect the Unborn Baby
Congenital Infections
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Congenital infections bear upon babies as the result of infection of the mother during pregnancy. Infection of the infant tin occur before the infant is born or during the birth process.
KEYWORDS
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Chiamydia
Cytomegalovirus
Gonorrhea
Grouping B streptococcus
Hepatitis
Herpes
Newborn infections
Parvovirus
Pregnancy infections
Rubella
Syphilis
Toxoplasmosis
Varicella
What Are Congenital Infections?
Bacteria, parasites, or viruses tin can cause congenital infections, which are infections that are present at birth. These infections can exist passed to the fetus or newborn in two ways. Some infections, such as rubella or cyto-megalovirus, are passed from the female parent to the baby through the placenta (pluh-SEN-ta), the organ that nourishes the baby in the uterus, or womb. A infant can likewise go infected during the passage through the nascence canal, as happens with group B streptococcus.
Some infections that tin seriously endanger the health of a developing fetus or newborn cause few or no symptoms in a pregnant adult female. The female parent's wellness and immunity to illness play a part in whether or not she contracts an illness. In addition, the phase during the pregnancy when a woman becomes infected tin too affect the severity of the baby'southward illness. For example, existence exposed to an infection in early pregnancy is often more unsafe for the fetus, placing the baby at higher hazard for miscarriage * , birth defects, or other problems.
What Are Some Common Congenital Infections?
There are many infections that can be passed from female parent to child during pregnancy or childbirth.
Chiamydial Infection
Chlamydial (kla-MIH-dee-ul) infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (kla-MIH-dee-uh truh-KO-mah-tis). Many women who are infected do not even realize it because they often have no symptoms. Nonetheless, when untreated, chlamydia can cause a scarring infection of the adult female'due south internal reproductive organs, increasing her risk of a potentially fatal tubal pregnancy * . If passed to the baby during the passage through the birth canal, chlamydia tin can cause conjunctivitis * and pneumonia * . These infections usually answer well to antibiotic treatment.
Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus (sye-tuh-meh-guh-lo-VY-rus) infection (CMV) is acquired by the cytomegalovirus, a member of the herpesvirus family unit * . It is transmitted through infected blood, saliva, urine, or other trunk fluids. CMV is a common infection, affecting about 1 in 100 newborns. Many people who have CMV do not realize it because it often produces no symptoms in healthy adults, but mothers who are infected with the virus during pregnancy can pass the virus to the baby in the uterus. A adult female tin can also pass the virus to her infant during delivery or through breast milk, however, infection past these routes is less probable to cause severe issues for the babe. Newborns who take contracted CMV in the womb may have no initial symptoms, but over the first few years of life the infection has been associated with problems with growth and development, as well as trouble with vision and hearing. Most ten percent of infants with built CMV infection will take signs or symptoms at nascence that may include jaundice * , retinitis * , microcephaly * , or signs of brain damage. Antiviral medications may assist in some cases of congenital CMV infection.
* miscarriage is the ending of a pregnancy through the decease of the embryo or fetus before birth.
* tubal (TOO-bal) pregnancy is a condition in which a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of the wall of the uterus.
* conjunctivitis (kon-jung-tih-VY-tis), often called 'pinkeye," is an inflammation of the thin membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the surface of the eyeball. Conjunctivitis can be caused past viruses, bacteria, allergies, chemical irritation, and other conditions or diseases that cause inflammation.
* pneumonia (nu-MO-nyah) is inflammation of the lung.
* herpesvirus (her-peez-VY-rus) family is a group of viruses that tin store themselves permanently in the body. The family includes varicella virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and canker simplex virus.
* jaundice (JON-dis) is a yellowing of the peel, and sometimes the whites of the eyes, caused past a buildup in the body of bilirubin, a chemical produced in and released by the liver. An increase in bilirubin may indicate disease of the liver or certain blood disorders.
* retinitis (reh-tin-EYE-tis) is an inflammation of the retina, the nervus-rich membrane at the back of the center on which visual images form.
* microcephaly (my-kro-SEH-fah-lee) is the condition of having an abnormally small head, which typically results from an underdeveloped or malformed brain.
Gonococcal infection
Gonorrhea (gah-nuh-REE-uh) is an STD acquired by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae (nye-SEER-due east-uh gah-no-REE-eye). Women often do not know that they are infected because the infection may not cause noticeable symptoms. Newborns can be infected during birth and develop an eye infection chosen gonococcal ophthalmia (gah-nuh-KOH-kul opf-THAL-me-uh). In rare cases, babies volition develop gonorrhea that causes blindness or meningitis * . In the United States, newborns routinely receive eye medication at nativity to forbid gonococcal middle infection. Antibiotics are given by injection to newborns if gonococcal infection is suspected.
Group B streptococcal infection
Group B streptococcal, or GBS, infection is caused by a bacterium that tin can be passed from mother to child presently before or during nascency. In newborns it tin can crusade sepsis * , pneumonia, and meningitis. Although well-nigh pregnant women with GBS infection have no symptoms, it tin can crusade bladder infections, infections in the womb (known as amnionitis, am-nee-o-NYE-tiss), and stillbirth. GBS illness is the most frequent cause of life-threatening infection in newborns, and according to the U.Due south. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the charge per unit of infection in newborns is 0.5 per 1,000 alive births. Since the beginning of preventive screening and treatment in pregnant women, the number of babies afflicted by GBS infection has declined by 70 pct. Newborns with GBS infection are treated with intravenous * antibiotics and require hospitalization.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis (heh-puh-TIE-tis) is an inflammation of the liver * . Viruses, leaner, and a number of other noninfectious medical weather can cause hepatitis. Hepatitis that is of business concern with regard to congenital infection usually is acquired by the hepatitis B or C viruses. Both can be transmitted from mother to newborn during birth. If non vaccinated, about 90 percentage of newborns infected with hepatitis B at birth will develop chronic * hepatitis, although newborns may not take symptoms of hepatitis at first. In the Us, newborns now routinely receive vaccinations * against hepatitis B infection.
Herpes
Herpes (HER-peez) refers to the infections acquired by the 2 types of canker simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 causes cold sores; HSV-2 is sexually transmitted and in women can cause lesions (LEE-zhunz), or sores, on the vagina, cervix * , or skin around the birth canal. The virus can be passed to babies who have contact with these lesions during birth. Herpesvirus infection in newborns tin can be limited to the peel or it can involve the lungs, brain, and other organs. More widespread infection in the infant tin result in permanent encephalon damage, mental retardation, or expiry. Newborns with canker are given intravenous antiviral medication.
* meningitis (meh-nin-JY-tis) Is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis is most often caused by infection with a virus or a bacterium.
* sepsis is a potentially serious spreading of infection, usually bacterial, through the bloodstream and torso.
* intravenous (in-tra-VEE-nus) ways within or through a vein. For example, medications, fluid, or other substances can be given through a needle or soft tube inserted through the skin's surface directly into a vein.
* liver is a big organ located beneath the ribs on the right side of the trunk. The liver performs numerous digestive and chemical functions essential for health.
* chronic (KRAH-nik) ways continuing for a long catamenia of fourth dimension.
* vaccinations (vak-sih-NAY-shunz), also called immunizations, are the giving of doses of vaccines, which are preparations of killed or weakened germs, or a office of a germ or product it produces, to prevent or lessen the severity of the illness that can result if a person is exposed to the germ itself.
* cervix (SIR-viks) Is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that opens into the vagina.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus infection is caused by parvovirus B19, which causes fifth disease in children. 5th disease usually results in a distinctive reddish rash on the face up, body, arms, and legs. Women who are infected during pregnancy typically feel only balmy illness, with symptoms such as a rash or articulation pain or swelling. However, in some cases the infection can cause severe anemia * in the unborn babe and miscarriage.
Rubella
Rubella (roo-BEH-luh) infection (German language measles) is caused by the rubella virus, which is transmitted by contact with fluid from the mouth or olfactory organ (unremarkably from coughs or sneezes) of someone who is infected. If a woman contracts the illness early on in her pregnancy, she can pass it to her unborn baby. It can pb to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which is associated with fetal death, miscarriage, premature delivery, and diverse birth defects, including deafness, cataracts * , mental retardation, microcephaly, enlarged liver and spleen * , bone marrow * problems, and eye defects. CRS occurs in nigh 25 percent of infants born to women who had rubella infection during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Babies born with CRS are treated for specific defects.
Syphilis
Syphilis (SIH-fih-lis) is an STD caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. If a pregnant adult female has syphilis, she tin pass information technology to the fetus. If not treated early, syphilis tin can atomic number 82 to serious complications in infants, including incomprehension, deafness, central nervous system * problems, and decease. Nearly half of all infants infected with syphilis during pregnancy dice before or presently after nascence, unless the mother has received treatment with antibiotics (usually penicillin) early in the pregnancy. Penicillin is given to infants whose mothers were infected but inadequately treated. Babies who show evidence of possible built syphilis, based on either physical signs or the results of a routine newborn blood test that screens infants for exposure to syphilis, too are treated with penicillin.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis (tox-o-plaz-MO-sis) is caused past the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is usually establish in cats and can be passed to humans in true cat carrion * . The March of Dimes estimates that a pregnant woman who contracts toxoplasmosis has a 40 percent chance of passing information technology to her babe. Treatment soiled cat litter is the typical way that the disease is transmitted to humans, simply the parasite also may exist present in raw or undercooked meat. Women who are get-go infected with the parasite shortly before they go pregnant or when they are significant tin can pass the organism to the fetus, leading to congenital toxoplasmosis; the symptoms of this status include jaundice, rash, fever, anemia, inflammation of the retina of the eye, and an enlarged spleen and liver. A baby with congenital toxoplasmosis may be blind or accept learning and motor (movement) disabilities and other key nervous organization problems. The bug associated with congenital toxoplasmosis may exist present at birth or appear equally the child develops.
* anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh) is a blood condition in which there is a decreased corporeality of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood and, normally, fewer than normal numbers of crimson claret cells.
* cataracts (KAH-tuh-rakts) are areas of cloudiness of the lens of the middle that can interfere with vision.
* spleen is an organ in the upper left part of the belly that stores and filters blood. Equally office of the allowed system, the spleen besides plays a office in fighting infection.
* bone marrow is the soft tissue within basic where blood cells are fabricated.
* central nervous arrangement (SEN-trul NER-vus Sister-tem) is the function of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.
* feces (FEE-seez) is the excreted waste product from the gastrointestinal tract.
Varicella
Infection with the varicella zoster (var-uh-SEH-luh ZOS-ter) virus can cause chicken pox and shingles (an infection that can cause a painful rash with blisters), and it can be spread through contact with the sneezes or coughs of an infected person. Because about adults had chicken pox as children, it is uncommon for a pregnant woman to become infected with the varicella virus. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that a woman's risk of contracting varicella during pregnancy is less than 1 in i,000. All the same, becoming infected during pregnancy can crusade serious complications. If a woman is infected with varicella early on in the pregnancy, the baby tin can have multiple birth defects. Features of congenital varicella syndrome may include scarring, malformed limbs, and impairment to the optics and brain. Up to ii percent of women who become infected with varicella during the commencement 20 weeks of pregnancy accept babies with congenital varicella syndrome. If a mother contracts chicken pox immediately before or later commitment, the infant may develop severe or even fatal chicken pox.
Can Congenital Infections Be Prevented?
There are many preventive steps pregnant women tin can accept to avoid becoming infected with diseases that could damage their infants. Practicing abstinence (not having sexual activity) or safe sex by using a latex prophylactic can reduce the risk of contracting STDs such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes. Experts recommend that every pregnant woman be screened for these infections and, if needed, treated with antibiotics or other medications to reduce the risk of passing them to her babe.
Because between xx and thirty percent of significant women carry GBS bacteria, pregnant women ofttimes are tested for the bacteria between the 30-5th and xxx-seventh weeks of pregnancy. The adult female's dr. takes samples from the vagina and rectum, and the samples are examined under a microscope. If a woman is infected with GBS, intravenous antibiotics given during delivery can help reduce the risk of transmitting the leaner to her baby.
Avoiding contact with cat feces and not eating or handling raw meat tin can reduce the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. Wearing gloves when handling soil, especially outside, and cooking all meat thoroughly before eating can also help forbid infection. Women who are considering becoming pregnant can be screened for antibodies * to CMV and toxoplasmosis. If tests show that they already have antibodies, there is no risk of acquiring the disease during pregnancy and therefore no risk to the infant. If they do not have antibodies, they should practice specially good hygiene while pregnant, including frequent hand washing, especially afterwards contact with diapers or someone'southward bodily fluids. Good hygiene can as well assistance prevent infection with parvovirus.
Should Pregnant
Women Receive
Vaccinations?
One fashion for a woman to foreclose pregnancy- and newborn-related infections is to brand certain her vaccinations are updated before becoming significant. Vaccinations can forbid some diseases, such as rubella and varicella, only if a pregnant woman does not take immunity to these diseases, she should non exist vaccinated while pregnant considering of potential risk to the fetus (these vaccines contain live viruses). Instead, vaccinating those around her tin can assistance protect her from infection. Other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine (non a live virus vaccine), are recommended during pregnancy.
* antibodies (AN-tih-bah-deez) are protein molecules produced by the trunk's allowed system to help fight specific infections caused by microorganisms, such every bit bacteria and viruses.
* immune globulin (ih-MYOON GLAH-byoo-lin), too called gamma globulin, is the protein cloth that contains antibodies.
Women with herpes lesions will likely accept their babies delivered via cesarean section to reduce the risk of passing the virus to the baby during delivery. Administering hepatitis B immune globulin * and hepatitis B vaccine to the infant within 12 hours of nascence tin prevent hepatitis B infection in the newborn. Experts recommend that rubella and varicella vaccines be given earlier pregnancy to women who have not already had these diseases or received the vaccines.
Resources
Organizations
March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605. The March of Dimes provides data about how to foreclose nativity defects, such as those caused by CMV and rubella infection. Telephone 888-MODIMES
http://www.modimes.org
U.S. Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333. The CDC is the U.South. government say-so for data about infectious and other diseases. The organization offers fact sheets about pregnancy- and newborn-related infections at its website.
Telephone 800-311-3435
http://world wide web.cdc.gov
Source: http://www.humanillnesses.com/Infectious-Diseases-Co-Ha/Congenital-Infections.html
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