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Shingles And Pregnancy
The idea of developing shingles during pregnancy can be a very unpleasant prospect for expectant mothers. As if all that extra weight, and the food cravings, and the hormonal imbalances aren’t enough! No one wants to have to deal with a painful rash on top of everything else. Here is some information that will help you know if you’re at risk for shingles, and how to cope with the condition in the event that it develops.
So what exactly is shingles?
Shingles is an infection caused by the chicken pox virus, also known as the varicella-zoster virus. After a person has the chickenpox, leftover antibodies remain dormant in the nerve cells near the spine, which renders the person immune to chickenpox from then on. However, these same antibodies are also remnants of the chickenpox virus, and can reappear as herpes zoster, or shingles, in later years.Chickenpox outbreaks generally occur during childhood, but some adults may contract it if they didn’t have it when they were young. For adults who get chickenpox, the symptoms are usually worse than a child’s, and it is more common for complications to arise, especially if you are an expectant mother.
Is Shingles Contagious?
Shingles is contagious only in the sense that it can spread chickenpox to anyone who has no had it. Shingles itself is not contagious, however, since it is a disease that can only develop from pre-existing virus leftover from a previous chickenpox outbreak.Shingles isn’t as contagious as chickenpox, however, since it is only passed through exposure to fluid from shingles blisters. While chickenpox can be spread through the air - an infected person coughing or breathing on someone - shingles is only contagious (in the form of chickenpox) if a person comes into direct contact with the rash itself, which is infectious until the blisters dry up. Most cases of shingles develop on the torso, though, and therefore the rash is usually not exposed.
If you are pregnant, have never had chickenpox, and have recently been in contact with someone who has shingles, it is probably a good idea to visit your doctor in order to make sure that you are not at risk. Chickenpox can cause a number of problems with pregnancy, and should be monitored closely to avoid problems, including rare cases of birth defects.
Will shingles harm an unborn baby?
The chance of shingles causing any harm to an unborn baby is very slight. Since shingles emerges from the chickenpox virus, to which the expectant mother is already immune, the baby will automatically inherit that immunity and not be affected by an outbreak of shingles.How is it treated?
Treatment for shingles usually consists of a topical ointment for the rash, and anti-viral medication to prevent infection. Some anti-viral medications that are commonly prescribed might pose a threat to expectant mothers and their child, so it is important to discuss treatment options with your doctor if you have shingles during pregnancy. If you're worried about taking prescription medications during pregnancy, it's a good idea to look for natural remedies that could offer the same, or oftentimes better, results as the medications prescribed by your doctor.Is there any way to prevent shingles?
There is currently no way to predict or prevent shingles from occurring. However, there are several factors that increase the likelihood of a person developing shingles. Fatigue and stress seem to play a prominent role in shingles outbreaks, as both tend to weaken the immune system and allow the dormant virus to escape from the nerve cells. During pregnancy, it’s important to get plenty of rest to ensure that your immune system is functioning at its best.Also, any illness that weakens the immune system - such as cancer, AIDS, or any immunodeficiency syndrome - is thought to sometimes cause nerve cells to let their guard down, causing shingles to appear.
How long will a shingles outbreak last?
In most cases, shingles will go away by itself within several weeks. Sometimes, however, the pain may persist for a long time after the rash is gone. This condition is what is known as Post-herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), and is most common in elderly patients. It is much like the pain felt just prior to the shingles rash outbreak, but usually much more severe, often to the point of being debilitating. The treatment for this condition may consist of pain relievers, nerve blockers, or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). Not everyone is responsive to these treatments, however.Self-help tips for shingles:
-Keep the affected area clean-Avoid scented lotions or bath oils
-Wear loose clothing - the affected area is often extremely sensitive
-Try to get a lot of rest, and avoid stress when at all possible.
-Do your best to keep from scratching. Not only will it cause scarring, but it will increase the risk of infection, which could spread to other areas
