Consequences of varicella in pregnancy or perinatal period

Abstract

Objective To understand the risks and consequences of varicella in pregnancy or perinatal period. Methods The clinical information from 71 cases of varicella in pregnancy or perinatal period were collected and analyzed from the literatures reported in Chinese from 1994 to Jun. 2015. Results Varicella of the pregnant women occurred during pregnancy or perinatal period range from 7 weeks of pregnancy to a week postpartum. There were 9 cases associated with other conditions of the Varicella. Forty-two normal neonates (59.2%, 42/71) and twenty-eight Neonatal Varicellas (NV, 39.4%, 28/71), and a case of congenital varicella syndrome were identified. The medium time of NV occurred 10 days postpartum. Nearly 32.1% (9/28) of NV associated with serious complications and 10.7% (3/28) of NV suffered from life-threatening condition namely pneumonia, septicemia, hepatitis and death. Conclusions Pregnant women at their later pregnancy (Second and third trimesters) and perinatal period were found to be susceptibility to intrauterine transmission of VZV and lead to NV. NV mainly occurred in 2 weeks after birth. Especially, the cases with short latent period tend to be associated with serious complications. Key words: Varicella; Pregnancy; Neonate; Perinatal Period