When pregnant, pregnant women need to be more aware of rubella or German measles. The reason is, this disease can not only endanger the health of pregnant women, but also the health of the fetus in the womb of pregnant women.
Rubella or German measles is an communicable disease caused by the rubella virus. This virus will be transmitted to anyone, as well as pregnant women. Pregnant women can contract this disease if they inhale droplets of saliva from a rubella sufferer, for example when they sneeze or cough.
Symptoms and Impact of Rubella for Pregnant Women
When infected with the rubella virus, there are various symptoms that can appear, including the appearance of a red rash on the face that spreads throughout the body, headache, low-grade fever (below 38°C), nasal congestion, red eyes, and joint pain. If pregnant women feel symptoms of rubella, immediately consult a doctor. If not treated immediately, rubella can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and even birth defects.
Pregnant women who are infected with this virus in the first trimester of pregnancy are at a higher risk of giving birth to children with congenital rubella syndrome. Congenital rubella syndrome can cause deafness, blindness, heart defects, intellectual or mental retardation, thyroid disorders, brain damage (kernicterus), thyroid disorders, and inflammation of the lungs.
How to Overcome and Prevent Rubella Measles
To diagnose rubella infection in pregnant women, the doctor will perform a blood test. If the results of the blood test indicate that the pregnant woman has rubella, the doctor will advise the pregnant woman to get enough rest and drink lots of water. The doctor will also give hyperimmune globulin antibody drugs to fight the virus. Because there is no specific drug that can prevent complications of rubella in the fetus, the best prevention that can be done is to prevent pregnant women from this disease.
Some preventative steps which will be taken are:
1. Receiving the rubella or MMR vaccine
The rubella vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy. Therefore, giving the vaccine needs to be done before pregnancy, namely when planning a pregnancy.
2. Asking people living in the same household to have the MMR vaccination
If possible, ask people who live with pregnant women to receive the MMR vaccine. This method is done to prevent them from being infected with the rubella virus and transmitting it to pregnant women.
3. Maintain cleanliness
Immediately wash pregnant women's hands with soap after doing any work. Do not touch your face, especially your nose and mouth, with unwashed hands.
4. Postpone traveling
If pregnant women plan to travel with a partner during pregnancy, you should postpone it. Especially if the tourer attractions that pregnant women visit embody areas with high rubella cases.
Rubella in pregnant women needs to be watched out for because it can cause miscarriage and fetal defects. Therefore, do the ways to prevent rubella above and immediately consult a gynecologist if pregnant women experience symptoms that may indicate rubella.
No comments:
Post a Comment