Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Radswiki T, Sandhyala A, In utero varicella zoster virus infection. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Mar 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-15194
An in utero varicella zoster virus infection is an infrequent type of in utero infection. The clinical features can be diverse and variable depending on the stage of gestation.
Epidemiology
Fetal infection with varicella is unusual in the current age due to most women of childbearing age being immune. The estimated frequency is generally very low at ~ 0.4% of pregnancies according to one study 2.
Pathology
The mechanism of congenital malformations caused by
varicella-zoster virus seems to be not due to fetal varicella but to the
development of herpes zoster in utero and to an encephalitis associated
with herpes zoster 3. Maternal infection during the 1st and 2nd trimesters can give the congenital varicella syndrome which includes 6
- skin lesions in dermatomal distribution
- neurologic defects
- ocular diseases
- skeletal anomalies
Infection in the third trimester is not associated with
it, but the infant may develop herpes zoster
during the first one or two years. Maternal infection just before or
after delivery presents a high risk for disseminated varicella in the
infant.
-
1. Derrick CW, Lord L. In utero varicella-zoster infections. South. Med. J. 1998;91 (11): 1064-6. South. Med. J. (link) - Pubmed citation
-
2. Harger JH, Ernest JM, Thurnau GR et-al. Frequency of congenital varicella syndrome in a prospective cohort of 347 pregnant women. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;100 (2): 260-5. - Pubmed citation
-
3. Higa K, Dan K, Manabe H. Varicella-zoster virus infections during pregnancy: hypothesis concerning the mechanisms of congenital malformations. Obstet Gynecol. 1987;69 (2): 214-22. - Pubmed citation
-
4. Smith CK, Arvin AM. Varicella in the fetus and newborn. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2009;14 (4): 209-17. doi:10.1016/j.siny.2008.11.008 - Pubmed citation
-
5. Gardella C, Brown ZA. Managing varicella zoster infection in pregnancy. Cleve Clin J Med. 2007;74 (4): 290-6. Cleve Clin J Med (link) - Pubmed citation
-
6. Sauerbrei A, Wutzler P. The congenital varicella syndrome. J Perinatol. 2000;20 (8 Pt 1): 548-54. - Pubmed citation
-
7. Enders G, Miller E, Cradock-watson J et-al. Consequences of varicella and herpes zoster in pregnancy: prospective study of 1739 cases. Lancet. 1994;343 (8912): 1548-51. Lancet (link) - Pubmed citation
-
8. Paryani SG, Arvin AM. Intrauterine infection with varicella-zoster virus after maternal varicella. N. Engl. J. Med. 1986;314 (24): 1542-6. doi:10.1056/NEJM198606123142403 - Pubmed citation
Promoted articles (advertising)