What is a viral respiratory infecti...

What is a viral respiratory infection?

A viral respiratory infection is a contagious illness that affects your respiratory tract (your breathing) and causes other symptoms. The flu and the usual cold are examples of viral respiratory infections. Other examples of respiratory viruses are:

* Chickenpox (also called varicella)

* Fifth disease

* Cytomegalovirus (say: "si-toe-meg-ah-low vi-russ")

* Rubella (also called German measles)

What if I am expos to a viral respiratory infection while I am pregnant?

Pregnant women can be expos to folks with viral infections at work and at domicile The infected person is usually a child. chiefly of the time, the pregnant woman does not get by heart infected. Even if she does, most numerous viruses will not hurt her baby. However, about viruses can cause a miscarriage or birth flaws in the baby.

If you are expos to chickenpox, fifth disease, cytomegalovirus, or rubella while you are pregnant, you should own your doctor right away. Your doctor will want to know in what manner much contact you had with the infected person

Here are one questions your doctor may ask you:

* Did you clutch or kiss the infected person?

* by what means long were you in contact with the infected person?

* When did the infected individual get sick?

* Did a doctor diagnose the infected person's illness? Were any proofs done?

What should I do if I am expos to chickenpox?

Chickenpox is caused on the varicella virus and is highly contagious. It can be serious during pregnancy. Sometimes, chickenpox can cause birth imperfections If you had chickenpox in the past, you cannot master it again, and your baby will be fine. If you did not perpetually have chickenpox or if you are not secure you had it, you should papal court your doctor right away. Your doctor will ordeal your blood to see if you are immune.

Many nation who do not remember having chickenpox are immune anyway. If your house test shows that you are not immune, you can take medicines to make your illness les morose and possibly help protect your baby from chickenpox.

What should I do if I am expos to fifth disease?

Fifth disease is customary in children. One half of all adults are susceptible to fifth disease and can catch it from children.

Children with fifth disease can win a rash on their visible form [i]or[/i] frame They may have red cheeks that gaze like they have been slapped. Adults who commit to memory fifth disease do not usually have the "slapped-cheek" rash. They may have sore joints.

Fifth disease does not cause birth deficiencys but it can cause anemia (low relations count) in your baby. If the anemia is bad, the baby could die. The anemia might achieve better by itself, or your baby might ne to have a vital current transfusion while still inside your uterus.

If you come by fifth disease early in your pregnancy, you could have a miscarriage. If you are expos to fifth disease, call your doctor. Your doctor may have you take a descendants test to see if you are immune. You may also ne an ultrasound exam to behold if the baby has been infected.

What if I am expos to cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus usually does not cause any symptoms, in the way that you will not know if you have it. It is the greatest in quantity common infection that can be passed from a mother to her baby. Cytomegalovirus affects the same of every 100 pregnant women It can cause birth defects

It is important to intercept cytomegalovirus infection because there is no way to treat it. Women who work in day care center and in a health care setting have the highest risk of getting infected. Pregnant women with these do job-works should wash their hands after handling diapers and avoid kissing and nuzzling the babies. If you think you have been expos to a bodily substance who has cytomegalovirus, you should view your doctor right away.

What if I am expos to rubella (German measles)?

Rubella is rare. Since 1969 almost all children have had the rubella vaccine. Rubella used to be a usual cause of birth defects. At the first prenatal visit, all pregnant women should be trialed to see if they are immune to rubella. Women who are not immune to rubella should secure the vaccine after the baby is born. It is better to be experimented even before you get pregnant. That way, you can prepare the vaccine before you learn pregnant. If you are expos to rubella when you are pregnant, you can have posterity tests to be sure you are immune.

What if I am expos to influenza?

Influenza hardly at any time causes birth defects. It can be more serious for you if you acquire the flu while you are pregnant. You might realize very sick. If you will be pregnant during the flu season (from October by the and of March), you should get a flu shooter in the fall.

What about other viral infections?

greatest in number other respiratory viruses (such as regular measles, mump roseola, mononucleosis [often called "mono"] and bronchiolitis) do not appear to be to increase the normal risk for birth faults In normal pregnancies, the risk of serious birth defaults is only 2 to 3 percent

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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