A case of Varicella Infection during Pregnancy.

Lim, Jong Cheol; Lim, Young Goo; Kim, Sei Dwang; Kim, Wan Gi; Joo, Soo Gil; Lee, Yong Jae; Seo, Kyung; Kim, Jae Wook

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1997;40(4):879-883.
Published online January 1, 2001.

A case of Varicella Infection during Pregnancy.

Jong Cheol Lim, Young Goo Lim, Sei Dwang Kim, Wan Gi Kim, Soo Gil Joo, Yong Jae Lee, Kyung Seo, Jae Wook Kim

Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, Yonsei University Colloge of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

The varicella during pregnancy is rare. The incidence of varicella among pregnant women is about 5 in 10,000 pregnancies. In 1947, Laforet and Lynch were the first to describe an association between maternal varicella infection in early pregnancy and congenital anomalies in the offspring. the existence of a syndrome was first postulated by Srabstein et al(1974), Brunell(1983), Kotchmar(1984), and recently Higa et al.(1987) described most of the malfomations associated with maternal varicella infection. Varicella-Zoster viurs(VZV) infections acquired during pregnancy may result in serio us disease for both the mother and the fetus. The effects on maternal health can range from a mild chikenpox exanthem to servere life-theatenig illness often complicated by viral pneumonitis. The fetus may remain unaffected, but VZV infection during early pregnancy has been associated with a congeital syndrome including muliplie defects of the skin, limb, eyes, and brain. We reports our experience with a varicella during pregnancy with a brief literature review.

Key Words: Varicella-zoster virus, Pregnancy, Congenital malfomaiton