Pregnant women are susceptible to tuberculosis, why?

This article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician - Gynecology Department - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

Having TB during pregnancy is especially dangerous for women because TB is very easily transmitted from mother to baby, even during pregnancy, also known as congenital TB.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to tuberculosis than other groups of subjects, the main reason is due to the body's changes in estrogen and progesterone hormones, and the appearance of placental hormones, making the The organs serving the process of pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing include the pelvis - hips, genitals, skin, and muscles to increase metabolism and absorb more water. It is these things that pull the pulmonary tissue and scar tissue to become softer, creating conditions for TB bacteria to easily penetrate and operate.
In addition to hormonal changes, maternal TB during pregnancy is also caused by other causes such as: weakened immune system, inadequate diet, loss of strength and fatigue...
Tuberculosis is a particularly dangerous infectious disease, especially for pregnant women because the possibility of transmitting the disease to their children is great.

Some statistics show that pregnant mothers who are diagnosed with TB and have to be treated for TB during pregnancy have an infant mortality rate of up to 18.7%.
This rate also doubles if the pregnant woman has TB during pregnancy and gives birth prematurely, the baby is born with low birth weight.
In the case of a child with congenital tuberculosis, the child will have fever, respiratory failure, and hepatomegaly. In infants, the disease can cause the child to lethargy, struggle, or most dangerously, coma, however, this is rare.
Women diagnosed with TB during pregnancy, especially late in pregnancy, have a 4-fold increased mortality rate and increased rates of gestational toxicity. However, TB can be completely cured if it is detected and treated early.
Because of the great risks that TB poses to both mother and baby, when a mother is diagnosed with TB during pregnancy, the advice of specialists is to delay pregnancy and giving birth during tuberculosis treatment.

In order to limit the effects of TB on the health of the mother and the baby, when TB infection is suspected during pregnancy, pregnant women should go to medical facilities and hospitals with TB specialists for clinical and laboratory tests. clinical diagnosis to accurately diagnose disease or not.
If the testing technique is guaranteed, it will not affect much and be safe for pregnancy. However, pregnant women still need to inform the doctor or technicians about being pregnant to ensure the technique is performed safely for the fetus. In case of having to check by X-ray, pregnant mothers should remind medical staff about wearing lead on the abdomen to protect the baby from X-rays.

Pregnant women with TB during pregnancy should be treated according to the doctor's instructions. The drugs used in the initial treatment were INH, rifampicin and ethambutol, with doses being continued daily for 2 months. However, it should be noted that streptomycin and PZA should not be used, because it can adversely affect the fetus.
Treatment of tuberculosis during pregnancy, besides taking drugs, the mother also needs to:
Provide and supplement adequate nutrition for the body, especially food sources rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, ensure meet the energy needs of the body. Calcium and fish oil also play a role in the recovery of infected lung areas. Have a reasonable lifestyle and rest regime to reduce respiration and promote abdominal recovery. After giving birth, if the mother with TB during pregnancy is still in the process of being treated for tuberculosis, it is necessary to:
Take more time to rest, supplement with foods of high nutritional value to recover quickly. health. However, it is still necessary to strictly follow the TB treatment regimen, to ensure that TB bacteria are not resistant to drugs. Isolate the baby if the mother has pulmonary tuberculosis due to tuberculosis bacteria in the sputum to minimize the risk of transmitting the disease to the baby, avoid breastfeeding the baby when the mother has pulmonary tuberculosis, wear a mask when near the child until the TB test is negative. Children of mothers with TB during pregnancy must be carefully monitored to detect whether they have congenital TB disease, and children must also be vaccinated with BCG early to prevent primary tuberculosis. Mothers with TB during pregnancy or in the process of being treated for TB, need to make sure to follow the instructions of the doctor and medical staff about the plan for taking care of the baby after birth to ensure the health of the baby. both mother and baby.