Skin infections in pregnancy
By Linda on Dec 22, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
Excerpt:
The article outlines examples of a viral (varicella-zoster virus, VZV), a
bacterial (Lyme borreliosis) and a parasitic (scabies) infection in
pregnancy with their risk for the mother and/or child as well as their
management. VZV infections cause various clinical scenarios depending on the
maternal immune status and the time of infection. Herpes zoster usually
poses no risk to the pregnant woman and there is no need for antiviral
therapy. VZV infection of a seronegative mother, however, may lead to severe
varicella in the pregnant woman and to congenital malformations (congenital
varicella syndrome) in case of early infection or neonatal varicella in case
of perinatal infection. Prompt therapy with acyclovir or administration of
VZV immunoglobulin for prophylaxis is mandatory in those patients.
In case of Lyme borreliosis of the mother, adequate antibiotic therapy with
amoxicillin prevents harm to the fetus. Doxycycline is contraindicated
during pregnancy.
Scabies represents an important differential diagnosis of pruritic
dermatoses in pregnancy and should be treated with permethrin 5% cream.
