Are Shingles Dangerous if You are Pregnant?

A flare-up of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes shingles. A woman who contracts VZV during pregnancy is at increased risk for varicella complications, as well as transmitting the virus to her child. Congenital VZV is associated with severe infection, as well as birth defects. VZV in pregnancy is rare, however, because most adults already have had the virus and cannot be reinfected.

Risk

• VZV causes chickenpox during the first infection, and shingles later in life. A risk of complications is present only if a woman contracts VZV during pregnancy, i.e., she has not already had chickenpox.

Shingles During Pregnancy

• Children born to women who themselves experience shingles during pregnancy are not at increased risk for birth defects or complications, according to Johns Hopkins.

Transmission

• A pregnant woman who has never had chickenpox may contract the virus through close contact with a person experiencing shingles, or through contact with someone who has chickenpox.

Danger to Mother

• A pregnant woman who contracts VZV may develop varicella pneumonia, a potentially fatal condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Early VZV

• VZV contracted during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy may lead to serious birth defects, including skin problems and atrophying of the limbs, vision problems, and microcephaly, a condition where the head is smaller than usual, which can lead to mental retardation and seizures, according to Johns Hopkins.

Later VZV

• Mothers who develop VZV infection between five and two days before delivery can pass the infection on to their children. According to the CDC, up to 30 percent of these children may die.