Future mothers should especially carefully monitor their health, since during pregnancy, the female body undergoes serious changes, its protective forces work to the limit, and this can lead to the development of various infections.
It is known that any disease caused by viruses or other pathogenic microorganisms is a serious threat to the fetus. Parasitic agents, easily penetrating the placenta, can provoke the development of intrauterine infection, which is extremely dangerous for the child.
Therefore, every woman who is preparing to become a mother soon is obliged to know everything about intrauterine infections: for what reason they develop, what symptoms are characterized, what methods are used to treat them.
What is this pathology?
In medicine, the term IUI (intrauterine infection) refers to a large group of diseases in which an infectious lesion of the fetus occurs. The provoking factor, as a rule, is the penetration of pathogenic microflora into the womb.
A similar process with untimely initiation of adequate therapy can lead to very serious consequences, including the death of the baby.
Basically, the infection gets to the developing fetus directly from the sick mother. The fact is that during pregnancy, the mother with the unborn child has a common blood supply system. For this reason, there is a free exchange of body fluids between two organisms.
If we add to this factor the fact that with the onset of pregnancy, the woman’s body begins to produce less antibodies, one can easily understand why even a safe bacterium can cause IUI.
Classification
Depending on the type of pathogenic microorganisms that launched the infectious process, the following forms of intrauterine infections are distinguished:
- Bacterial Usually their development is provoked by listeria, tubercle bacillus, pale treponema (causative agent of syphilis).
- Fungal-parasitic infections are caused by candida, chlamydia, mycoplasma, toxoplasma and other representatives of the mushroom family.
- Viral processes are the result of infection with herpes, enteroviruses, rubella, hepatitis and other pathogens of this class.
- Mixed forms are diagnosed in a predominant number of cases of IUI (approximately 50% of the total number of diseases).
This fact is explained by the fact that the body of the expectant mother becomes susceptible not to a single strain of pathogens or to a separate group, but to all pathogenic microorganisms. That is, the protective barrier of the expectant mother is weakening and cannot fully resist the attacks of infectious agents.
But at the same time, any woman throughout life suffers all kinds of infections, after which a stable immunity is formed. For this reason, in medical practice, there are most often cases when the group of 3-4 pathogens becomes the culprits of the invasion.
The main ways of infection of the fetus
Of course, any expectant mother is most concerned about the question of how the infection can get to a newly born living lump.
There are four ways of penetration of pathogenic microflora:
- the upward path consists in the spread of infection through the genitals (chlamydia, enterococcus);
- infectious pathogens from the fallopian tubes enter the fetus if the woman has had inflammatory processes of the appendages;
- hematogenous, that is, through the blood, is considered the most common way to spread the infection (viruses, toxoplasma);
- Intranatal transmission method occurs when the fetus comes into contact with infected amniotic fluid or during childbirth.
Key markers of IUI during pregnancy
According to some clinical signs, it is impossible to determine the type of pathogen that provoked the development of intrauterine infection. Therefore, in medical practice, laboratory tests are used for this purpose. Moreover, for accurate diagnosis, it is required to take tests several times.
You should know that in medicine, intrauterine infections are referred to as TORCH syndrome. In this Latin abbreviation, all the most common infections are reflected.
T - Toxoplasmosis
This is the most dangerous infection that can affect the fetus and leave such dire consequences as:
- Microcephaly.
- Spontaneous miscarriage.
- Delayed child psychomotor development.
- Damage to the organs of vision.
O - other infections
Among which is the B19 parovirus, which gives a high percentage of child mortality (10 out of 100 cases). Congenital chickenpox, hepatitis B, listeriosis, syphilis and other infections should be included in this group.
R - rubella
This is also one of the most insidious infections, which leads to developmental abnormalities and malformations of the fetus. The most dangerous period is up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. Of the undesirable consequences of this infection, it is worth noting:
- microcephaly;
- fetal death of the fetus;
- heart defects;
- congenital cataract;
- encephalitis;
- skin diseases.
C — cytomegaly
If this causative agent becomes the cause of IUI, a future baby may develop hearing impairment by the sensorineural type. Infection can lead to complete blindness of the child, affect the normal physical and mental development. Often this infection leads to the birth of a dead baby.
H - herpes simplex virus
It also leaves grave consequences. Easily penetrating the placental barrier, hepatitis B affects the brain of the fetus, which subsequently negatively affects the mental abilities of the child. In addition, herpetic infection causes a significant blow to the liver, hematopoietic system and other important organs. In severe cases, IUI caused by the herpes virus leads to stillbirth.
HIV
Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which poses a huge threat to the fetus developing in the womb, cannot be ignored. Thanks to the capabilities of modern medicine, today all expectant mothers undergo a mandatory examination for the presence of this dangerous infection. Therefore, doctors manage to identify it in a timely manner, which allows you to take all the necessary measures to prevent infection of the fetus.
We need to pay attention to this important point: today, all parents planning to acquire offspring, doctors recommend passing a series of laboratory tests. This event helps to timely detect the presence of pathogens of dangerous diseases.
The danger of intrauterine infections
The main threat of this group of diseases is that invisible agents interfere with the development of the fetus, thereby causing enormous damage to the defenseless body.
Of course, such an intervention does not pass without a trace, because babies are born weak, with a small body weight and all kinds of malformations.
IUIs are especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy, when all organs and systems of the unborn baby are laid. If infection occurs during this period, the baby may be born with obvious defects. Very often in such cases, babies are born that are completely unsuitable for independent living.
Also, one of the most common complications of IUI is spontaneous miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy or premature birth at a later date. An intrauterine infection can occur both in acute and in chronic form.
For a future mother, IUI during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester are dangerous because they increase the likelihood of developing a septic process. For the baby, the risks are much greater: these are, first of all, various anomalies of development, deformity, damage to the organs of hearing and vision, heart defects and other complications. Many of these consequences have been mentioned above.
Of course, the outcome of the infectious process and the prognosis for the future depend on a combination of the following factors:
- the duration of the disease;
- gestational age (pregnancy);
- types and number of strains;
- the degree of resistance of maternal immunity.
If IUI can be identified at the initial stages and timely engaged in appropriate therapy, then there are chances to save the child’s life and minimize the consequences of pathology.
Causes of IUI
Science has not yet clearly established all the factors that provoke the development of intrauterine infections. But it is well known that they can contribute:
- pathology of the urogenital sphere of a woman;
- depressed immunity, including HIV infection;
- respiratory diseases, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy;
- exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
- any surgical procedures at any stage of gestation.
It must be remembered that in any case, the infection of the fetus occurs only from the mother.
Risk groups
Asked about the risk of IUI during pregnancy, what is it and who is most susceptible, then, as a rule, patients are carriers of pathogenic agents:
- who already had children with signs of IUI:
- having children attending child care facilities;
- working in the medical field and in the field of education;
- suffering from chronic pathologies of the inflammatory nature of any localization;
- women who gave birth to previously premature babies.
From the foregoing, it can be concluded that IUIs are most often found in women who are more at risk of contracting infections. The risk group for IUI during pregnancy (which is discussed above) should also include patients who have often had abortions.
Clinical symptoms
The difficulty in diagnosing IUI is that the pathology mainly proceeds in a latent form. Often, the disease simply disguises itself as an elementary deterioration in the general condition, which is usually taken as a course of toxicosis. Therefore, doctors manage to identify the pathological process when it takes a generalized form.
Among the symptoms that should alert the expectant mother, the following clinical manifestations should be highlighted:
- increase in temperature background;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- joint pain
- skin rash;
- conjunctivitis;
- various manifestations of the common cold (cough, runny nose).
If the listed symptoms are noted for a long time, a woman should definitely tell the doctor about it.
Suspect a fetal infection by the following signs:
- slow growth and development;
- change in the volume of amniotic fluid;
- the appearance of fetal signs of hydrocephalus;
- malformations of the placenta;
- polycystic;
- the size of the fetus is less than the norm.
Ultrasound diagnostics help to identify the deviations listed here.
Diagnostic Methods
To accurately establish the signs of IUI during pregnancy, doctors use a range of measures. These include mandatory procedures such as:
- Taking swabs for inoculation from the vagina.
- Analysis for IUI during pregnancy (blood is tested for antibodies).
- Cardiotocography.
- If necessary, a pregnant woman’s physiological fluid is taken for analysis to make a DNA test.
It has already become clear what IUI is during pregnancy. On ultrasound, the signs of the disease, by the way, are also determined. In addition, the doctor carefully collects information about previous diseases, the presence of a woman's chronic processes. Subsequently, a diagnostic conclusion is made according to the results of all the types of examination listed. In this case, the severity of the defeat of the fetus is necessarily evaluated, the method of further treatment is determined.
After the baby is born, blood is immediately drawn from the umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid is also examined. In special cases in newborns, spinal secretions, urine and saliva are taken for examination. Such samples allow a wider view of the ongoing process.
Treatment principles
If the diagnosis of IUI during pregnancy is confirmed, doctors develop an individual therapy program. Typically, such treatment includes:
- The use of antibiotics to minimize damage to the fetus and prevent complications.
- If a fungal infection is detected, then a course of treatment with penicillin drugs is carried out.
- For viral infections, drugs such as Acyclovir are used.
- General strengthening agents, as well as immunomodulators, are necessarily included in the treatment of IUI during pregnancy. They will help restore normal protective potential.
- To eliminate the negative symptoms, antipyretic and pain-relieving drugs are used in a dosage that is acceptable for the expectant mother.
Children born with signs of IUI are subject to long-term follow-up (up to 6 years).
Conclusion
Moms should know that such serious pathologies do not go unnoticed. Therefore, these babies need to be protected from colds, contacts with infectious patients.
Any woman planning a pregnancy should strengthen her own immunity, and be sure to follow all preventive measures to prevent infectious diseases.