PREGNANCY: VIRUS INFECTIONS
Cytomegalovirus Infections (CMV).
Infection with this virus is common among adults, and it often
passes unrecognized. However, should a pregnant woman become
infected for the first time, the virus readily passes the
placental barriers into the developing embryo. Here, serious
consequences can occur. In fact, in many cases it causes the death
of the developing infant. But in instances where it survives, severe
neo-natal illness invariably follows.
The liver is affected, and jaundice can occur to a severe degree. But the
most important defect is in the brain. The virus is responsible for
serious neurological complications which frequently result in mental
retardation. In fact, about 10 per cent of the cases of mental
retardation in the United Kingdom
are allegedly due to CMV infections before birth. At best, treatment
is poor, and the outlook for babies affected before birth is grave.
Other Viral Infections.
Since
the recognition of these two well-established viral foes to
developing infants, a large amount of investigation has been
carried out with other common forms of viral infection.
Although the evidence is not so concrete, it seems that almost any viral
infection during early pregnancy may, in some cases, produce
developmental problems. The common cold, due to an ever-changing
number of related viruses, and various forms of influenza, have also
been incriminated.
No doubt time and more research will give a clearer picture of their
virulence and danger in the pregnancy picture.
Poliomyelitis is fortunately a disease that has almost vanished from the
scene of Western medicine. But sporadic cases are still reported. It
is worth noting that pregnant women are quite prone to this very
disabling disease, and the risks of paralysis, it seems, are more
likely in the early stages of the disease.
Therefore, women who have not received immunisation against polio are
advised to have this carried out. This is even more important if
they intend travelling in the near future to a country where polio
is still rampant, and there are many countries in the world where
this is the case.
Bacterial Infections.
Two
other infections are worthy of mention. These are both venereal in
nature, and are represented by gonorrhoea and syphilis. Both may
have an adverse effect on the developing embryo, as well as having
serious repercussions on the parent if left untreated.
Both diseases are produced by bacteria. Therefore, they are much more
amenable to treatment. Massive doses of currently used antibiotics
can quickly destroy the bacteria before they can do much harm to the
embryo, provided therapy is instituted promptly.
However, there must be a history of sexual contact (presumably with an
infected partner) before these diseases can be contracted. Both
diseases have been fairly quiet until very recent times, when both
have shown a marked upsurge in activity. It is now well recognized
that promiscuous living and a variety of sexual partners constitute
the most common way of contracting either or both of these diseases.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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