Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
1997 Apr;40(4):879-883.
A case of Varicella Infection during Pregnancy
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, Yonsei University Colloge of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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The varicella during pregnancy is rare. The incidence of varicella among pregnant women is about 5 in 10,000 pregnancies. In 1947, Laforet and Lynch were the first to describe an association between maternal varicella infection in early pregnancy and congenital anomalies in the offspring. the existence of a syndrome was first postulated by Srabstein et al(1974), Brunell(1983), Kotchmar(1984), and recently Higa et al.(1987) described most of the malfomations associated with maternal varicella infection. Varicella-Zoster viurs(VZV) infections acquired during pregnancy may result in serio us disease for both the mother and the fetus. The effects on maternal health can range from a mild chikenpox exanthem to servere life-theatenig illness often complicated by viral pneumonitis. The fetus may remain unaffected, but VZV infection during early pregnancy has been associated with a congeital syndrome including muliplie defects of the skin, limb, eyes, and brain. We reports our experience with a varicella during pregnancy with a brief literature review.