Pregnancy is a very delicate stage. Thus it is important that pregnant women are healthy and free of any disease or infection. Although infections are normal and are part of people’s lives, pregnant women are at a higher risk because having an infection can pose danger both to the mother and to the unborn child. Infections can be caused by certain microorganisms that grow within the body (MedicineNet, 2004). Pregnant woman can have more than one infection at a time. As such, certain infections that may pose a threat during pregnancy will be discussed in the paper.
Pregnant women can develop coughs, colds and flu. Although these post no risk to the mother and the unborn child, the mother must drink lots of water and rest for complete recuperation. However, if coughs are accompanied with green phlegm, the mother may have bacterial infection needing antibiotics. Moreover, pregnant women can develop vaginal infections. One example is thrush, which can cause itching and soreness. It usually appears on women during the third trimester of pregnancy. Another example of a vaginal infection is Group B Streptococcus (GBS).
Although it does not cause any problem, there may be small cases wherein the bug is passed to the baby during the delivery. The baby born can acquire blood-borne infection or meningitis (Women’s Health Information, 2008). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also affect pregnant women. Infections included in this category are Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Chlamydia is an infection that can be passed to the baby during delivery. Chlamydia affects pregnant women as it causes infection of the amniotic sac and fluid.
Other problems associated with Chlamydia are preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) and preterm birth. There are also studies which showed that Chlamydia is associated with increased miscarriage. The baby can also be infected if the mother has Chlamydia during delivery. The baby can have eye infection or conjunctivitis or pneumonia after birth (Baby Center, “Chlamydia During Pregnancy,” 2005). Gonorrhea, on the other hand, can also be passed to the baby during delivery. Pregnant women with gonorrhea are at risk of PPROM, preterm birth, miscarriage and are more vulnerable to HIV if exposed to it.
Gonorrhea can affect the baby through eye infection that can lead to blindness if untreated. In small cases, gonorrhea can also cause meningitis or serious blood or joint infections (Baby Center, “Gonorrhea During Pregnancy,” 2005). HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is another type of STIs. HIV causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), which affects the body’s ability to fight off infections. Pregnant women diagnosed with HIV can pass it to their babies during pregnancy.
In developing countries, pregnant women are at a higher risk of stillbirth, intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. Without proper medication or treatment, there is a 25 per cent chance that the baby can be infected (Baby Center, “HIV/AIDS During Pregnancy,” 2006). Other than the abovementioned infections, pregnant women can also be infected with genital herpes. The baby may be infected through the following: if it was exposed to herpes lesions during the delivery; if the mother has antibodies to herpes, and; if the baby acquired the antibodies before birth.
The babies infected with herpes are at a higher risk of developing rash on the skin, infection of the brain or throughout the body (Brannon, 2008). Another type of infection is toxoplasmosis. If not treated, it will lead to congenital toxoplasmosis to babies. Unborn babies are at a higher risk of getting infected during the third trimester. Toxoplasmosis can affect babies through stillbirth, miscarriage, blindness, brain damage, hydrocephalus, deafness or epilepsy (Women’s Health Information, 2008).