Skin infections in pregnancy.
A wide array of infectious diseases can occur in pregnancy. Their acquisition, clinical presentation, and course during gestation may be altered due to an impairment of the maternal cellular immunity. Some infectious diseases can lead to serious consequences for the mother or the offspring, including congenital malformations. This review describes in detail the clinical presentation, course, management, and associated maternal and fetal risks of selected viral (varicella-zoster virus infections, condylomata acuminata), fungal (candida vulvovaginitis), bacterial (Lyme borreliosis), and parasitic (scabies) infections. The treatment options are critically reviewed. First-line therapies include acyclovir and varicella-zoster virus immunoglobulin for varicella-zoster virus infections, surgical modalities for genital warts, topical clotrimazole and oral fluconazole for Candida vulvovaginitis, amoxicillin and cefuroxime for Lyme borreliosis, and permethrin for scabies. A synopsis of maternal and fetal risks of other important infections is also included.
Department of Dermatology, State Hospital Wiener Neustadt, Corvinusring 3-5, 2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Electronic address: Robert.muellegger@wienerneustadt.lknoe.at.
Robert R
RR
Müllegger
Department of Dermatology, State Hospital Feldkirch, Carinagasse 47, 6800 Feldkirch, Austria.
Nina S
NS
Häring
Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Gloriastrasse 31, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Glatz
D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012532:Scabies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission