Symptoms and Treatment for Exposure to Shingles During Pregnancy

Shingles is not common during pregnancy but any type of exposure to shingles during pregnancy needs to be taken seriously and making sure to contact your physician immediately is of the utmost importance.

Shingles is a virus that is a herpes type virus, it is the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus can affect the body's immune system and therefore cause the mother to be susceptible to other viruses and diseases. The chances of the shingles virus causing harm to the unborn child is very slim but the possibility does exist so that is why contacting your physician immediately is so important.

Symptoms of Shingles During Pregnancy

Shingles is very difficult to diagnosis before a rash appears, although one may suffer pain in the central region of the body, the pain is many times not thought to be shingles but a different ailment instead so it extremely difficult to diagnose at the beginning stages. There is also the possibility of symptoms such as fever and headaches when there is exposure to shingles.

Shingles can start out with a tingling type feeling in a specific location or area on the body, possible even a numbing sensation can occur. The shingles will then typically take on a rash like appearance, however for a pregnant woman it is not uncommon to develop rashes on the skin during pregnancy so it is very important to note and keep an eye on the rash and any changes to rash area that may occur.

Shingles will tend to form blisters in clusters and also it is possible to experience excruciating itchiness along with the blisters. It is better to be safe than sorry, so any notice of a new rash should be noted to your physician.

A physician will generally take a scraping of the affected area and send it in to a lab for a scientific and true diagnosis.

Treatment of Shingles During Pregnancy

There are 3 antiviral prescription medications that physicians typically prescribe when shingles is diagnosed during pregnancy, the medications are: acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famcyclovir. Deciding and choosing which medications are best for you will be between you and your doctor after thorough discussion of each medication.

Your physician may offer a prescription for some of pain medication if the shingles are causing severe pain and/or your physician may also offer a prescription of some type of topical solution to aid in the itchiness.

Depending on how severe the shingles is, there may also be a need to alter your lifestyle to a certain degree until the shingles is healed up and you are on the road to recovery.

Pregnancy is typically not easy and worrying about contracting shingles should not be at the top of the list for concerns, there are many other more pressing issues to worry about during pregnancy as the possibility of contracting shingles during pregnancy is so slim.

However, whenever in doubt always give your physician a call and let he/she know of any unusual symptoms you have developed, especially if you notice a rash or blisters, are itching, running a fever or having more headaches than usual.

Sources:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shingles/detail_shingles.htm

http://shingles.emedtv.com/shingles/shingles-and-pregnancy.html