Identification
Shingles is also known as herpes zoster and can cause a painful rash to appear on the body, commonly in the form of blisters that begin on the back and wrap around to one side of the chest. According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles may also involve the scalp, face and neck. Shingles is actually a result of a prior herpes zoster infection in the form of chickenpox. The body generally is unable to completely eliminate the virus after chickenpox, and, as a result, the herpes zoster virus simply lays dormant in the nerves. Although it is unclear as to what causes the virus to be reactivated, it is thought to be related to the immune system becoming weaker. As a result, shingles is more common in older adults and people who have been immunocompromised.
Shingles and Pregnancy
Although fairly rare, shingles symptoms do occasionally develop during pregnancy, according to the website Checkshinglessymptoms.com. It is possible that the stress that a pregnancy creates on the mother's body could weaken the immune system, allowing the virus to become reactivated. Shingles symptoms during pregnancy are similar to those in a typical shingles infection. The earliest symptom is pain that begins in the back and can spread to the front (this is where the blistering rash will eventually occur), as well as a headache, nausea and abdominal pain.
Shingles and Fetuses
One of the dangers of shingles during pregnancy is that it can cause damage to the fetus. According to checkshinglessymptoms.com, if a woman develops shingles during the last three weeks of pregnancy the odds are fairly substantial that the child will become infected and develop symptoms within the first 5 years. If the woman develops shingles in the days before the child is born, then the child has a risk of developing an infection that can be life threatening. As a result, many physicians will recommend that a pregnant woman get a shingles vaccine to bolster the immune system. While this does not reduce the risk of developing shingles to zero, it does significantly lower the risk and will also lessen the severity of the disease should it occur.
