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Measles infection in pregnancy
Makiko Egashira Chiba1, Masatoshi Saito, Nobuaki Suzuki
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
The Journal of Infection
|July 10, 2003
Summary
Gestational measles can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage and congenital measles in newborns. Early-term infections pose a higher risk for spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Measles infection during pregnancy poses risks to both mother and fetus, but detailed understanding remains limited.
- Gestational measles knowledge gaps necessitate further clinical investigation.
Observation:
- A measles outbreak in 2000-2001 involved eight pregnant women.
- Clinical courses of these gestational measles cases were meticulously documented.
Findings:
- Pregnancies before 24 weeks gestation resulted in spontaneous abortion or stillbirth in 3 of 4 cases.
- Later-term pregnancies (after 25 weeks) led to live births, with 2 neonates diagnosed with congenital measles.
- Maternal complications included pneumonia and hemorrhagic shock, with no fatalities.
Implications:
- Gestational measles is a significant pregnancy complication with potential for severe fetal damage.
- This study highlights the critical impact of measles timing during pregnancy on perinatal outcomes.