There are a lot of unknowns with monkeypox. The symptoms and risks tend to be pretty ambiguous at the onset. One group that could be vulnerable to this infectious disease are pregnant women. However, there’s not a lot that is concretely known about monkeypox in pregnancy.
This blog will give you all the information about monkeypox in pregnancy. With the severity of monkeypox right now, don’t delay with anything else and start reading.
Table of Contents
What Is Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a virus that’s been around for centuries. It was first discovered in monkeys but can also be found in rodents, prairie dogs, and humans.
The virus was first described by scientists in 1958 as a new type of poxvirus. The name “monkeypox” comes from the fact that it was originally found in monkeys.
The disease comes from the pustules that appear on people infected with monkeypox. These pustules look like those caused by smallpox, which is much more dangerous than monkeypox and can cause blindness or even death if not treated appropriately.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox, touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox and contact with respiratory secretions
Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. As the illness progresses, symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, rash and hair loss may develop.
Image Source: iStock
Monkeypox in Pregnancy
This infection is uncommon. There’s not much known about the possible risks of the infection of monkeypox in pregnancy.
Caretakers should be careful not to touch areas of skin that could be infected with the virus or have broken out with a rash. They should also avoid contact with bodily fluids or secretions from sick people who have had monkeypox symptoms.
If you’re pregnant and have been exposed to someone with monkeypox, call your doctor immediately so they can determine if you need treatment or testing. It’s important to get treatment right away, so you don’t pass the disease on to your unborn baby!
Can Monkey Pox Affect Pregnancy
You might wonder if monkeypox could affect your baby in the early stages of pregnancy.
The answer is yes and no. Monkeypox is a virus that affects both humans and animals. It can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or bodily fluids. This means that if you were exposed to the virus while pregnant, it could also be passed on to your unborn baby.
But don’t worry. Monkeypox is rare in humans, and there are very few cases in which it has been documented as affecting pregnancy.
Symptoms of Monkeypox in Pregnancy
It is important to know that there are no specific tests for monkeypox. Diagnosis can be made based on the clinical presentation of symptoms and finding characteristic lesions at the site of infection.
Women should be especially cautious about contracting monkeypox in pregnancy since it is much more likely to result in severe illness in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women.
A pregnant woman with monkeypox may have:
- Fever
- Headache
- Body aches and pains
- Rash on the trunk of the body or face (but not on the palms)
Mild symptoms that go away without treatment or make a woman feel better without treatment are typical. But if you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away:
- Severe rash that spreads to other parts of the body (the hands, for example)
- High fever that lasts more than three days in a row
Treatment for Monkeypox in Pregnancy
Pregnant women must avoid contact with all animals, including rodents and monkeys because they can transmit the virus to humans. It’s also best to avoid spending time in places with animals, such as pet stores and animal shelters.
If you’re an expectant mum exposed to monkeypox or think they may have been exposed to monkeypox, call your doctor immediately. You should avoid going to work, school, or public places until they are no longer infectious.
With monkeypox in pregnancy, women who are infected should take the same precautions as anyone else who has been exposed to monkeypox: cover their mouth if they cough or sneeze; wash their hands often with soap and water; avoid sharing food or drinks, and stay home from work or school until they are no longer infectious (21 days after the onset of symptoms).
How Does Monkeypox Affect Foetus
It’s believed that monkeypox causes birth defects if you contract it while pregnant. But the truth is: no one knows for sure because there are so few cases of monkeypox affecting pregnant women that scientists don’t have enough data to make any concrete conclusions yet!
Pregnant mum worried about monkeypox
Can Monkeypox Affect Babies
Yes, monkeypox can affect babies.
Monkeypox is a rare viral illness that is similar to smallpox. It’s caused by a monkeypox virus and can cause severe illness in people of all ages. But it’s most severe in infants and young children, who are at the greatest risk for complications and death from the disease.
Monkeypox symptoms in babies include:
- fever
- a flat face rash that starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body
- red bumps with fluid-filled blisters that form on the hands, arms, legs, feet and face
- swollen lymph nodes (the glands under your neck) in your groin area or armpits
- eye pain
If you think your baby has monkeypox, call her paediatrician right away.
READ MORE:
What We Should Know About Monkeypox: Symptoms, Causes and How to Prevent It
Monkeypox Disease In Singapore: Here’s All You Need To Know About This Rare Disease
What is monkeypox: Everything you need to know about this rare disease
Monkeypox and Breastfeeding
How to Build Immunity to Monkeypox in Pregnancy
Here are some tips for building immunity to monkeypox in pregnancy:
Image Source: iStock
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