Can measles during pregnancy cause birth defects?

Measles is an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is common in children under 5 years old, people who have not been vaccinated against measles, immunocompromised people, especially pregnant women. So what are the risks of measles infection during pregnancy? Can measles infection during pregnancy cause birth defects? https://www.vinmec.com/en/vaccine/kien-thuc-tiem-chung/virus-nao-gay-benh-soi/

Measles is caused by the measles virus, the incubation period is usually from 7 to 21 days (average of about 10 days), if you get measles during pregnancy, pregnant women will have the following symptoms:
1.1 Stage of onset : Patients usually have a high fever of 39 - 40 degrees Celsius. Upper respiratory tract infection (stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing) Acute laryngitis with hoarseness (may occur) Appearance of particles Koplik are small white/gray 0.5-1 mm granules with raised erythematous halo on the surface of the buccal mucosa (inside the mouth, at the level of the maxillary teeth).

2.2 Full-blown stage: 3-4 days after high fever, rash appears. The rash is characterized as a maculopapular erythema, when the skin is stretched, the rash disappears. The order of appearance of the rash from behind the ears, back of the neck, forehead, face, and neck gradually spreads to the trunk and extremities, both on the palms and soles. When the rash covers the whole body, the fever gradually subsides.

2.3 Recovery phase: The rash gradually fades to gray, scabs of dark chalk, leaving tiger marks and disappearing in the same order as it appeared. If there are no complications, the disease will go away on its own. There may be a cough that lasts 1-2 weeks after the rash clears. In some atypical cases, pregnant women with measles may have a transient mild fever, mild inflammation and a small rash, with a good general condition. Due to the atypical manifestations of the disease, patients think they have common flu or typhus, so they often ignore it, easily spreading it to the community. Or the patient may also have a high fever continuously, atypical rash, edema accompanied by severe pneumonia.

Pregnant women often have reduced resistance, so they are very susceptible to infectious diseases, including measles, especially women who have not been vaccinated against measles before becoming pregnant.

Studies have shown that measles infection during pregnancy does not cause birth defects, but maternal mortality is tripled compared with non-pregnant women infected with measles, increasing the risk of miscarriage. stillbirth, premature delivery or low birth weight, or primary measles infection.
When infected with measles, pregnant women have symptoms of high fever, which increases the mother's body temperature and heart rate, thereby increasing the amniotic cavity temperature and fetal heart rate, affecting the fetal metabolism, right heart rate Overwork can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm labor.
When measles is contracted at the end of pregnancy, measles virus penetrates through the placental spines into the fetus, causing the fetus to be infected with primary measles, with a high neonatal mortality rate due to complications of subacute meningitis.

When there are symptoms of suspected measles during pregnancy, pregnant women should immediately go to medical facilities for examination and definitive diagnosis. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with measles, it is necessary to have a close treatment coordination between an infectious disease specialist and an obstetrician-gynecologist to receive treatment and limit possible complications.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for measles, vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease. According to the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women should be vaccinated against measles at least 1 month before becoming pregnant.

If not vaccinated, pregnant women should:
Avoid contact with people who are sick. Limit going to crowded places, wear a mask when going out. Eat enough nutrients, supplement vitamin C to increase resistance. Keep warm. Keeping the house clean, neat and airy. Measles is a contagious disease that spreads quickly, easily causing many dangerous complications, especially in pregnant women. Although it does not cause fetal abnormalities, it increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and birth. underweight child. Therefore, everyone needs to be vaccinated against measles and have a positive prevention attitude to protect the health of themselves and the community.
If you have unusual symptoms, you should be examined and consulted with a specialist or contact the Hospitals and clinics of the Vinmec Health system nationwide.