One newborn with measles It is among the cases reported in the growing outbreak in western Texas, according to Lubbock public health officials. Experts claim that the If it serves as a reminder that the disease can be especially dangerous for pregnant women and very young children .
“This is how this epidemic is widespread, even affecting unvaccinated pregnant women,” said Peter Hotez, codirector of the Texas Children’s Hospital Development Center and director of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor School of Medicine.
At least two pregnant women were infected with this outbreak, according to employees of Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. Eighty -one measles were reported in children 4 years or less in Texas and New Mexico. This is part of the largest outbreak that now covers three US states, including Oklahoma, totaling 258 reported cases.
The baby, who has already recovered, was born of an unaccfperated mother who was recently infected with the virus, according to Katherine Wells, Lubbock’s public health director.
Measles and pregnancy
Measles is a highly contagious disease transmitted by air that can cause rash, fever, red eyes and cough. Severe cases may result in blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, brain inflammation. In some cases, the disease may be fatal.
Both newborns and pregnant women have a higher risk of measles virus complications.
Unjustified mothers who contract measles at the beginning of pregnancy risk low birth weight, premature birth and stillbirth.
For those who contract the infection later in pregnancy, there is a greater chance of transmitting the baby infection by vertical transmission – when the virus goes through the placenta – or, more commonly, by air transmission shortly after birth.
When your mothers have immunity against measles, children under 6 months will have some immunity through her antibodies. But if the mother is not vaccinated or has no immunity, babies become susceptible.
“Neonates have a more fragile immune system, and their recovery can be more complicated,” says Dr. Lynn Yee, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Unvaccinated pregnant women have a higher risk of measles complications, such as pneumonia.
People who are not pregnant can receive the vaccine against measles-bark-rubella up to 72 hours after exposure to the virus to prevent the infection. But pregnant women cannot receive the vaccine; Instead, they can receive immunoglobulin, or antibodies, up to six days after exposure to measles. Babies under 6 months may also receive immunoglobulin after exposure.
Yee never treated a measles patient, but advised pregnant women who were exposed to the virus and had not been vaccinated as children due to parents’ wishes.
“I think most patients want to protect themselves, and perhaps there is some feeling of regret or anger that they were not better protected,” she said.
Vaccine protects beyond measles
Although measles have serious health risks, doctors are usually more concerned with how rubella viral infection can affect newborns.
“Women who are not vaccinated against measles are also not vaccinated against rubella,” said William Moss, a pediatrician who runs the International Center for Access to Vaccines at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health School.
Among rubella infected women at the beginning of pregnancy, there is a 90% chance that the baby has congenital rubella syndrome. This can cause delays in development, cardiac defects, deafness and cataracts. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 babies with congenital rubella syndrome will die before the first year of life. There is less risk when the infection occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The MMR vaccine is highly safe and effective, experts. One dose gives 93% immunity against measles and 97% against rubella. With the second dose, immunity against measles also rises to 97%.
“The most important thing you can do is… if you get vaccinated,” said Yee. “Vaccines work. … This is avoidable. This should not be happening. ”
See also: How the Covid vaccine race has advanced the treatment of other diseases
This content was originally published in a measles outbreak in the USA poses a higher risk to pregnant women and babies on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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