A pregnant woman who contracts measles may have clinically severe disease with complications. She also may spread the virus to the fetus.
Intrauterine complications:
(1) intrauterine fetal demise with abortion
(2) congenital malformations (more common with infections in the first trimester)
(3) premature delivery
Early postpartum complications:
(1) neonatal measles
(2) measles encephalitis
Late complications:
(1) subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
Considering how serious the consequences are, women who may become pregnant should be vaccinated well in advance of becoming pregnant. A susceptible woman who is exposed to measles during pregnancy may benefit from immunotherapy (see Chapter 25).
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