Everything you need to know about scarlet fever during pregnancy

Scarlet fever during pregnancy, like any condition that occurs during that process, warrants a medical consultation as soon as possible. Although, in principle, it should not be alarming, without treating it becomes dangerous.

Scarlet fever during pregnancy can cause alarm, especially since the symptoms are highly visible and impactful. You have to take it easy and keep in mind that the most important thing is to go to the doctor as soon as possible to start treatment.

Although scarlet fever was almost eradicated, in recent years, there has been an increase in cases in several countries of the world. It is usually contracted by children between the ages of 2 and 16, but adults can also get it. For this reason, you have to be very careful, especially with a pregnant mother.

The importance of health in pregnancy

It is expected that during pregnancy, there is a significant health concern. No mother wants even to contract an allergy for fear that this will affect the pregnancy or cause problems for the baby.

The truth is that several conditions can occur without significant risks. If you have a fever or cold symptoms, for example, it is not true that this will cause malformations to the fetus or increase the risk of miscarriage.

Scarlet fever is arguably similar to a bad cold. Either way, it is always best to avoid it. How? Adopting the appropriate precautionary measures, which are very simple. It must be taken into account that this pathology is contracted by contagion. Therefore, follow these tips:

  • Do not come in close contact with people who are sick. If your child has symptoms of scarlet fever or another condition, keep your distance or wear gloves.
  • Do not share food, drink, or silverware with anyone.
  • Wash your hands very well, with hot water and soap, after contact with children, especially if they are sick.

What is scarlet fever during pregnancy?

Scarlet fever during pregnancy does not present very different characteristics from those in a person who is not in that state. It is a disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus and is also known as scarlet fever.

The symptoms are similar to those of pharyngitis. Among them, we find the following:

  • Fever.
  • Sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
  • Swelling of the lymph nodes.
  • Red rash all over the body, similar to an allergy.
  • Vomiting.
  • Pain in the lower abdomen.

Scarlet fever takes about three days to incubate and, with proper treatment, subsides in one to three weeks. It is essential to clarify that a person who has already had this disease can still contract it again.

In principle, scarlet fever during pregnancy is treatable without a problem. The truth is that when measures are not taken in time, complications can occur. Someone infected could develop sinusitis or meningitis. Therefore, it is appropriate to see a doctor when you experience symptoms that something is wrong.

Is scarlet fever dangerous during pregnancy?

The answer to whether scarlet fever during pregnancy is dangerous has two answers: no and yes. No, because there is no evidence that this infectious disease affects the baby. In any case, the fever cannot be allowed to run free, since too high a temperature can affect pregnancy.

However, scarlet fever in pregnancy often causes vomiting. If the disease occurs in the first trimester, when the same pregnancy causes frequent nausea, it may be necessary to adjust the nutrition to affect the mother or the fetus.

The real danger of scarlet fever during pregnancy is that it is not treated correctly. Although it does not directly harm the baby, it can still cause severe problems for the mother, affecting the child. Likewise, if the mother has the disease during childbirth, she will likely infect the baby.

Treatment

Treatment of scarlet fever during pregnancy is carried out based on antibiotics. Typically, these are prescribed for ten days. These drugs do not affect the baby and act on the symptoms so that in a couple of days, the fever disappears.

On the other hand, the doctor will advise bed rest so that the body can rest better. It would help if you also drank plenty of fluids that are not cold. These favor the elimination of mucus, phlegm, or sputum. The room should be kept at a cold temperature.

If all goes well, in just four or five days, most of the signs will be gone. There may be dryness on the skin that is relieved with moisturizer. With proper and timely treatment, it is very rare for any complication to occur.

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