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Pregnancy refers to the process of reproduction; women carry an offspring in their womb. The approximate time for a human pregnancy is 40 weeks; during this period there is a chance of infection affecting the mother or the growing fetus. Parvovirus B 19 Infection is one of such infection that can be categorized as pregnancy complications. Parvovirus B 19 Infection and pregnancy problem that it creates is a thing of concern that needs to be taken care of. Get an idea about Parvovirus B 19 Infection and pregnancy in details.
Parvovirus B 19
Parvovirus B 19 belongs to the category of single-stranded DNA virus; it causes erythema infectiosum, a common illness that affects children. This virus easily spreads from contact through hand and mouth and also through respiratory secretions. Transmission might take place from the mother to the baby in her womb.
Parvovirus B 19 Infection and Pregnancy
Parvovirus Infection is also termed as Fifth Disease; when a pregnant woman is infected there are certain risk factors associated with it. Fetal infection is the logical outcome; it leads to fetal anemia and other problems. Parvovirus infection can have adverse effects; if infection takes place during the first twenty weeks of pregnancy it might cause death of the fetus. It might also lead to hydrops fetalis, which characterized by fluid accumulation. In most of the cases maternal infection remains asymptomatic.
Effects on the Fetus Due to Parvovirus B 19 Infection
Parvovirus B 19 infection affects the course of pregnancy. The effects on the fetus are as follows:
- Spontaneous Abortion- If a pregnant woman is infected with Parvovirus she might have to suffer miscarriage or automatic abortion. This usually happens in the initial stages of pregnancy; the cause of fetus loss is associated with multiple organ damage.
- Congenital Anomalies and Defects- the chance of congenital malformations is slim in case of Parvovirus B 19 infection but it cannot be ruled out completely. Congenital defects related to the central nervous system have been reported; craniofacial problems and eye anomalies are common too.
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- Hydrops- the virus causes the placenta and leads to severe kind of hypoxia and fetal cardiac failure. Fetal anemia and fetal viral myocarditis cause hydrops fetalis.
If a woman gets infected with Parvovirus she has to consult her obstetrician and fetal infections are to be monitored.
Read the informative pages of our site pregnancyxl.com and get to know more about Parvovirus B 19 and pregnancy and pregnancy complications.
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