Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Infectious diseases
Infections of concern during pregnancy: prevention and interventions
Recent articles on:
Health problems in pregnancy
Health problems in pregnancy
Recent articles on:
Infections and pregnancy
Infections and pregnancy
Abstract
Although a broad range of infections can damage a developing fetus or newborn infant, they do so infrequently and many are preventable. Accurate diagnosis is needed to determine appropriate management.
Key Points
- Infectious diseases that occur during pregnancy can infect and damage the fetus or neonate, although this happens infrequently.
- Accurate diagnosis of maternal and fetal infections is needed to determine appropriate management.
- Maternal infections are often asymptomatic or cause mild, nonspecific illness; however, some can be more severe due to anatomical and/or physiological changes that occur in late pregnancy.
- Routine antenatal screening is recommended for the presence of, or susceptibility to, a small number of infections for which a safe, effective intervention (i.e. immunisation or treatment) is available, to reduce maternal or fetal/newborn risk.
Picture credit: © KO Studios
Purchase the PDF version of this article
Already a subscriber? Login here.