| Some pregnant women may be at risk
of catching communicable diseases that could infect their
baby before it is born or at the time of birth. Some of
these infections are very common—at home, in the
community, and in child care centers and schools. Some
are rare. Some are spread through the air, and some by
direct contact with infected body fluids, while others
are sexually transmitted or require close contact for
a long time. While sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
are common, they are not an occupational risk in the child
care or school setting.
Here is a list of communicable diseases to look
out for during pregnancy
- Chickenpox
- Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV)
- Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19)
- Genital Warts
- Hepatitis B
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Syphilis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Certain other bacterial or viral diseases
School and child care employees and students who are
pregnant or who are thinking about getting pregnant should
be aware of these diseases. They can then check with their
doctors before and/or after they get exposed. Blood tests
may be needed to see if the woman could have been exposed
to these diseases. Other women may need vaccines or specific
treatment for protection from these infections.
Pregnant women should check with their doctors if they
think they have been in contact with any of the diseases
listed above or if they have symptoms of these diseases.
Each exposed person needs to be individually evaluated.
Pregnant women do not routinely need to be excluded from
settings where diseases are occurring since the risk to
any pregnant woman will depend on the type of disease,
the way the disease is spread, and whether that woman
is already immune (has had the infection in the past)
to the disease. |
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