Does dengue fever in the first 3 months affect the fetus?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. Doctor has more than 13 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dengue fever is a dangerous disease that spreads quickly and leaves unpredictable complications, especially for pregnant women, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy if severe dengue can directly affect pregnant women. Next to the fetus.

1. How dangerous is dengue fever?

Dengue fever seems to be a normal disease, with little danger, but it can actually spread into an epidemic, if not treated promptly, it will cause death.
If in the first 2-7 days after the illness, the patient is not treated promptly, the disease will develop seriously with symptoms such as: The temperature starts to drop to 37.5 - 38 degrees Celsius, sometimes even 36 degrees C. Increased vascular permeability occurs concomitantly with an increase in Hematocrit. The white blood cell count begins to decrease, followed by platelets and plasma. Plasma leakage is clinically manifested under dangerous phenomena such as pleural effusion, peritoneal effusion, decreased HCT and blood albumin, manifestations of shock (small rapid pulse, low blood pressure, cold extremities, purple veins) , oliguria).
Patients may have hemorrhagic manifestations: Hemorrhage on the skin (hemorrhage in the form of a pinhead on a congested skin background, bruising at the injection site, blood collection); mucosal bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums); internal bleeding (gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary bleeding, intramuscular bleeding). In addition, there may also be manifestations such as respiratory failure, liver dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmia, impaired consciousness,...
Dengue fever is caused by 4 types of dengue virus. denoted as D1, D2, D3, D4. Because the immunity formed after infection is only relative to each type, the patient can be re-infected with dengue many times by different types.

2. Having dengue fever in the first 3 months affects the fetus?

Currently, there are no indications that pregnant women with dengue fever must abort their pregnancy, and many women who have the disease and receive treatment will still give birth normally without affecting anything.
However, it is also not possible to exclude dangerous risks to both mother and fetus such as:
Thrombocytopenia: can be life-threatening for both mother and child. In addition, severe thrombocytopenia can lead to a number of complications when using medical techniques that help pregnant women deliver painlessly during childbirth. Premature birth, low birth weight: Dengue fever increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, or even death if a woman has severe bleeding during pregnancy, especially in the second and third months. increased risk of premature birth, low birth weight baby or even death if the pregnant woman is seriously ill. Miscarriage: When a pregnant woman has dengue fever in the first trimester, it increases the risk of miscarriage.

The risk of a pregnant woman passing dengue fever to her baby during the first 3 months of pregnancy is very low, only if the pregnant woman gets sick in the late stages of pregnancy. However, the chance of a fetus contracting this virus is quite low. So far, the ability of dengue fever to cause birth defects in children has not been confirmed.

3. What should a pregnant woman do when she has dengue fever?

When you see signs of dengue fever such as fever, cough or respiratory infection, it is very likely that the mother has dengue fever. In this case, the mother needs to calm down, go to the doctor to come up with appropriate treatment methods to avoid affecting the mother and the fetus.
If the pregnant woman is in the early stages of dengue fever, the doctor will instruct to monitor and take oresol. If a pregnant woman on the 4th or 5th day of the disease, has bleeding, decreased platelets or liver and kidney damage, she should be hospitalized for care and treatment.
At this time, pregnant women will receive fluids to reduce blood concentration, monitor platelet transfusions if indicated by the doctor, receive fluid and electrolyte replacement, measure pulse, blood pressure and take care of doctors. medical staff at the hospital.
Along with the treatment process, pregnant women need to pay attention:
Limit contact with cold water and avoid going to the wind as well as the spread of infection. Follow a reasonable diet and rest, supplement with micronutrients to help increase resistance as directed by your doctor. Absolutely do not arbitrarily use the drug without the consent of the doctor because that makes the disease worse and affects the fetus.

4. Measures to prevent dengue fever for pregnant women

The best way to prevent disease is to kill mosquitoes, larvae/larvae and prevent mosquito bites.
Eliminate mosquito breeding places, kill larvae/larvae by:
Cover all water containers to prevent mosquitoes from entering and laying eggs. Release fish into large water containers (tanks, wells, jars, jars,...) to kill larvae/larvae. Collect and destroy waste items in and around the house such as bottles, jars, bottle fragments, butter pipe pieces, coconut shells, old tires/cars, bamboo niches, leaf sheaths,..., clean the environment school, turn water containers upside down when not in use. Put salt or oil in a bowl of water for the bottom of the cupboard/cupboard, change the water in the vase. Prevent mosquito bites by:
Wear long-sleeved clothing. Sleep under the net even during the day. Use mosquito repellent spray, mosquito scent, mosquito repellant cream, electric mosquito net, ... Use curtains, mosquito nets impregnated with chemicals to kill mosquitoes.

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