Intrauterine infection in a premature newborn. Intrauterine infection of the fetus

28.08.2019

To date, the lion's share of pathologies in newborns is provoked precisely by intrauterine infection. But the most deplorable thing is that such an infection very often leads to serious problems with the health of the child, and even to disability or to the death of the baby. Timely treatment can help avoid serious consequences.

Often, a mother who leads a healthy lifestyle, avoids any harmful influence, has a child with serious pathologies. Why? Doctors explain this by low immunity - under any circumstances, it decreases during the gestation period. Against the background of poor reactivity of the body, latent infectious diseases begin to appear. More often, such a picture in a woman is observed in the first three months of pregnancy.

What exactly can threaten a newborn baby? Today, the most dangerous for the fetus are viruses:

Rubella.
Cytomegalovirus.
Hepatitis B.
Chicken pox.
Herpes.
Bacteria that cause syphilis, tuberculosis, listeriosis.

An extremely dangerous representative of the kingdom of protozoa is Toxoplasma.

Let us consider in more detail each of them and the consequences of intrauterine infection in newborns.

Rubella

As for this virus, it rarely causes serious pathologies in an adult, but it is very dangerous for an unformed baby in the womb. The biggest risk for the baby is when infected for up to 4 months.

The expectant mother can become infected with this virus by airborne droplets. If the fetus is infected, then the child may develop complications:

Eye damage.
Underdevelopment of the brain.
Meningitis (that is, inflammation of the meninges).
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
congenital deafness.
Enlargement of the liver.
Intradermal hemorrhages.
Enlargement of the spleen.
Pneumonia.
Stillbirth.
Miscarriage.

It is impossible to cure a child while he is in the womb. Therefore, it is worth checking the immunity for the presence of antibodies to this virus even at the preparatory stage for pregnancy and during it.

If the mother does not have immunity to rubella, then it is worth getting vaccinated while planning to conceive a child.

Cytomegalovirus

The main route of transmission of CMV is sexual. There is also the possibility of infection through saliva, blood. To the child, this virus migrates only through the placenta. And it is very dangerous for the fetus in case of infection in the last months of pregnancy.

Possible pathologies with intrauterine infection with CMV:

Hearing loss or lack thereof.
Hydrocephalus (excess fluid that presses on the brain) and microcephaly.
Enlargement of the liver and spleen.
Pneumonia.
Blindness.
Stillbirth.
Miscarriage.

The consequences of intrauterine infection in newborns depend on the degree of infection: in case of severe damage, the prognosis is unfavorable - for 30% of children, death occurs in the first year of life. If severe infection has been avoided, then a completely healthy child is likely to be born.

AIDS virus

To date, doctors have ensured that an HIV-infected mother can give birth to a completely healthy baby. However, there is a risk of infection of the fetus.

Children with congenital HIV infection have a very weak immune system, and without proper therapy they do not live up to a year. It is not HIV itself that kills them, but concomitant infections. Therefore, it is very important to identify the disease in a pregnant woman in time and start therapy.

Hepatitis B

The virus that causes this disease can enter the mother's body through sexual contact or through the blood. It freely crosses the placenta to the baby.

Complications in a newborn caused by the hepatitis B virus:

Diseases of the liver.
Retardation of mental and physical development.
miscarriage or stillbirth.

It must be remembered that in the absence of symptoms in a pregnant woman, the disease is transmitted to the baby.

Chicken pox

It would seem that this is a harmless disease that almost all of us have had in childhood. But chickenpox can cause severe complications if a pregnant woman becomes infected with it. The risk is especially high when the disease is transferred in the third trimester.

Intrauterine infection with chickenpox threatens:

characteristic rash.
Blindness (due to atrophy of the optic nerve).
Underdevelopment of the limbs.
Inflammation of the lungs.
Underdevelopment of the CNS.

The above pathologies are referred to as congenital varicella syndrome. A woman can become infected with chickenpox through airborne infection.

If at one time the expectant mother already had chicken pox, then upon contact with a person who has all the symptoms, she will transfer immunoglobulins to the child - she will create passive immunity.

Herpes

The herpes virus, acquired by the mother through sexual contact, is transmitted to the child when it passes through the birth canal.

Consequences caused by this disease:

characteristic rash.
Increase in body temperature.
Pneumonia.
Yellowness of the skin.
Congenital malformations of the eye.
Pathology of the brain.
Miscarriage and stillbirth.

The herpes virus carries a great danger to the central nervous system of the baby. If brain damage occurs, then meningitis, encephalitis, hydrocephalus, etc. develop. These children have an increased risk of developing cerebral palsy. Congenital herpes infection in this case does not appear immediately, but after about a month.

This virus is also characterized by transplacental transmission.

Syphilis

When a pregnant woman is infected with syphilis, there is a maximum chance that the fetus will also be infected. The expectant mother can catch the disease only through sexual contact. If, with the appearance of a hard chancre (the first stage of syphilis), you do not immediately start treatment, then the following consequences are possible for the child:

Delayed mental and physical development.
Yellowness of the skin.
Rash.
Pathology of the eyeballs of the ears, as a result - deafness and blindness.
Underdevelopment of the limbs.
Damage to the teeth.
Premature birth, stillbirth.

Even in the absence of obvious signs of syphilis, a woman can become infected with the fetus, so monitoring the health of the mother is mandatory both when planning pregnancy and at all its stages.

Tuberculosis

One of the most dangerous infections for a child is the causative agent of tuberculosis. If the mother was already ill with tuberculosis before pregnancy, then it is possible to bear and give birth to a healthy child only under careful medical supervision. Many forms of tuberculosis and its combination with other diseases are the reason for abortion for medical reasons.

In the case of infection of a woman during pregnancy (tuberculosis is spread by airborne droplets), there is a chance of giving birth to a child already sick with tuberculosis.

Listeriosis

A pregnant woman can meet with listeriosis when eating low-quality meat and dairy products, unwashed vegetables, and through dirty hands after contact with animals. If for the mother, listeria infection can go unnoticed or with minor intestinal disorders, then penetrating the placenta, this bacterium causes a number of complications in the baby:

Rash, ulcers on the skin.
Sepsis.
Brain damage.
Premature birth and stillbirth.

With any manifestations of such an infection in newborns, the prognosis is disappointing (about 40% of infants survive).

Toxoplasmosis

Consequences of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women:

Brain damage (meningitis, encephalitis, hydrocephalus).
Blindness.
Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly.
Delayed mental and physical development.
Premature birth, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage.

It is easy to avoid any of these infections - it is enough to take a responsible approach to the choice of sexual partners, maintain your immunity and regularly visit the doctor during pregnancy planning and the entire period of its management. Timely tests will help prevent the development of such terrible consequences.

How happy parents are when childbirth goes smoothly, without any complications, and the little man is born healthy. And it seems that nothing else can overshadow the joy of birth. But a couple of days pass and the health of the newborn deteriorates sharply. The kid often spits up food, he is lethargic, his appetite disappears, and there is no increase in weight. All this may be a consequence of the so-called intrauterine infections in newborns. What is it?

As medical practice shows, in the human body there are always microorganisms that are the causative agents of all kinds of diseases. And if a man, having become infected with them, is responsible only for himself, then it is more difficult with the fair sex. In addition, if she is in an interesting position at the time of infection. In this case, there is a real risk of infecting your child while still in the womb. Possible ways of infection are: the general blood flow of the mother with the child, accidental ingestion of amniotic fluid by the fetus. Often, infection occurs during the birth process.

From what pathogen will cause infection of the mother's body, this will be the disease of the baby. According to doctors, the disease is caused by:

Herpes, rubella, influenza viruses, cytomegaly;
Bacteria - streptococci, Escherichia coli, pale treponema, chlamydia;
Protozoa (toxoplasma);
Mushrooms.

The presence of the following factors in the expectant mother will increase the risk of infection of the newborn:

The woman's health is undermined by various ailments of a chronic nature;
The female body is affected by many negative factors such as smoking and alcohol busting and employment in hazardous industries;
Constant stress throughout pregnancy;
Mom suffers from chronic ailments of the genitourinary system.

In the medical environment, the diseases of the newborn received by him while in the womb of the parent were reduced to one group and gave them a common name - TORCH. This was due to the fact that, despite the fact that the pathogens are different, the manifestation of diseases have the same characteristics. This abracadabra stands for quite simply:

T - toxoplasmosis;

Oh - others. This refers to almost all ailments of an infectious nature;

R is for rubella. In Latin rubella;

C - cytomegalovirus infection of the newborn;

From the period at which the infection occurred, the degree of influence of the infection on the further development of the baby will be manifested;

Up to twelve weeks - infection at such an early stage often leads to the fact that spontaneous interruption occurs or, in the future, the development of a small one will pass with large defects;
Infection occurred between 12 and 28 weeks - usually at this time, infection will lead to developmental delay. The consequence of this will be that the newborn will be born underweight;
Infection after 28 weeks is dangerous because it has a negative effect on the well-formed organs of the child. The brain, heart, liver and lungs are primarily affected. That is, all vital organs.

Most common intrauterine infections

Statistics show that this list includes the following infections in descending order:

Toxoplasmosis;
Cytomegalovirus;

Cytomegalovirus in newborns

Let's consider them in more detail:

Staphylococcal infection experts, in turn, are divided into two types:

Purulent-inflammatory processes with a local character;
The infection is generalized or.

The most dangerous for a child is Staphylococcus aureus. The fact that its pathogen is present in the child's body can be recognized by the pustules on the skin. This also includes purulent inflammation of the umbilical wound. The consequences of a staphylococcal infection are quite severe, up to toxicological shock. Therefore, as soon as the first signs appear, you should immediately contact a medical institution.

Who is at risk

Children's doctors have long compiled a list of those who are included in the so-called risk group. In the same list, in addition to living persons, doctors also included subjective reasons. Here is the list:

Mothers with previously born children. Pupils of schools and pupils of preschool institutions;
Workers of kindergartens and schools;
Health workers working directly with children;
Pregnant women who have inflammatory diseases with a chronic course of the disease;
Those women who have had repeated abortions for medical reasons;
Women who have already had infected children;
Those women who in the past had children or pregnancies with fetal malformation and fetal death in utero;
The amniotic fluid broke long before the birth.

A pregnant woman should seek medical attention as soon as she feels the following symptoms:

A sharp rise in temperature;
Lymph nodes enlarged and became painful to the touch;
The skin is suddenly covered with a rash;
Appeared cough, shortness of breath;
Drowsiness, lacrimation;
The joints are swollen and hurt when moving.

It is not necessary that all these signs are dangerous for the little one. But they are mandatory for contacting doctors. It is better to be safe than to be treated for a long and difficult time.

Preventive measures

It has long been known that any disease is best prevented than treated later. TORCH infections are no exception. Preventive measures are divided into two types: before conception and pregnancy.

Measures up to

First of all, this is the delivery of all tests for the presence of immunity to diseases included in the list of prenatal. If the tests show that there is such an indicator as IqG in the credits, then this will indicate that the woman's body has the necessary antibodies. If this is not available, then this means only one thing - the woman's body is open to infection. Therefore, if pregnancy is planned, then she must first be vaccinated against rubella. In order to avoid toxoplasmosis, you can temporarily remove all animals from the house before delivery and be examined together with a partner for infection with herpes and cytomegalovirus. If the IqG is very high, then this indicates that there is an acute infection in the female body. And before you plan the birth of a baby, you need to be completely treated.

Prevention during

But if the IgG titer turns out to be in the analyzes of the pregnant woman, then here it already clearly indicates infection of the female body. In theory, this means that the unborn baby is also in danger. And in order to exclude this, the expectant mother needs to pass some additional tests, by which you can determine the condition of the fetus and work out your actions further.

And keep track of your contacts.

Treatment process

If infection is detected during pregnancy, this is not a reason to give up. The disease is well treated with antibiotics. Representatives of the penicillin group excel here. After all, despite their venerable "age" among antibiotics, they are still one of the most effective drugs in the treatment of viral infections. Moreover, they are practically safe for the health of the baby.

At the same time, antimicrobial drugs are actively used. Their use often saves the life of a child, and also reduces the negative consequences.

With a viral infection, treatment is a rather difficult process, but if you start it in a timely manner, the consequences can be prevented. But if they have already formed, then antiviral drugs are useless. In this case, surgical methods often come to the rescue. In cases of cataracts or CHD, the child will have a chance to live the rest of his life on his own, with a minimum of outside help. It is not uncommon for such children to need hearing aids many years later.

Already mentioned above, acute herpes with rashes on the labia of the mother is clearly an indication for caesarean section. In other cases, nothing interferes with natural childbirth.

Disability from birth is primarily associated with the transmission of the virus from mother to child during pregnancy. Also, the same reason leads to miscarriage or death of children in the first days of their life. Intrauterine infection in newborns has significant consequences, since the disease can change the process of fetal development. Recently, even a healthy woman who does not have bad habits and chronic diseases has an unhealthy child. This phenomenon is due to the fact that during pregnancy a serious restructuring of the body occurs, and this significantly weakens the woman's immunity, as a result of which viruses that are in the inactive phase begin to develop in the body. This process is especially dangerous in the 1st trimester, at the time of the birth of the fetus. Consider all the features of how intrauterine infection manifests itself in newborns and all the features of such a development of the body.

The problem under consideration has been studied over the past few decades. This is due to the fact that the problem is very common in recent times. The important points of the IUI include the following points:

If the mother's body has a latent infection, then in 10% of cases it is transmitted to the fetus.
In 0.5% of children born have one or another manifestation of symptoms.
Despite the commonly held belief that the infection necessarily passes from mother to child, this is not the case. Some types of infections are not passed from mother to child.
Many infections practically do not manifest themselves in the mother's body. However, the fetus or the newborn child may experience more serious disorders. In a newborn child, symptoms appear almost from the first days of birth.
In order to exclude the possibility of a problem, a timely examination should be carried out. In other words, when planning a pregnancy, you should undergo a complete examination. If the pregnancy was unplanned, then an examination should be carried out at the initial stage.
Modern treatment can reduce the likelihood of transmission of the virus from mother to fetus by almost 100%.

Doctors conduct examinations of pregnant women in order to exclude the possibility of fetal developmental disorders. However, it should be borne in mind that it is the intrauterine infection that the consequences that occur after birth cause the most striking symptoms.

How does infection occur in the fetus?

There are several ways of transmitting the infection. These include:

The above issues should be considered when considering how diseases can be transmitted from mother to child.

pathogens

Almost all viruses can be passed from mother to child. However, only some do not have a strong effect on the fetus. However, there is a group that has a strong impact, that is, the changes become irreversible, causing serious deviations. However, the viruses that cause SARS are not transmitted from mother to child. The only problem that SARS leads to is a serious increase in body temperature, which can harm the fetus. That is why when conducting a check when planning a pregnancy, all infections should be considered. Even harmless infections in children can cause severe symptoms.

What consequences?

Intrauterine infections in a child can develop as follows:

with acute symptoms.
The appearance of chronic symptoms.

It all depends on which infections are transmitted. The acute form is characterized by a state of shock, severe sepsis, pneumonia. Such problems appear almost immediately, the child begins to eat poorly, sleep, activity decreases. However, the infection that takes place inside the mother's body may not appear for a long time.

The chronic manifestation of the problem, when infection has passed during pregnancy, is quite common. Health problems arise in the first years of life, in the future the child will suffer from a phased manifestation of symptoms.

How does the symptom manifest itself?

In the case of transmission of infection from mother to fetus, not only deviations can occur. There are miscarriages, antenatal fetal death, stillbirth, and pregnancy fading occurs, that is, the fetus stops developing. If the infection was passed to the fetus during pregnancy, the following symptoms may occur:

Symptoms appear at the onset of the active phase. However, they can manifest themselves in both the mother and the child.

Whether influences on what term has passed or has taken place an infection?

Intrauterine infection in children causes quite a few health problems. It should be taken into account that the infection of the fetus is dangerous at any stage of pregnancy. In doing so, we note the following points:

In the first trimester, some viruses pose a great health hazard. An example is the rubella virus.
Some pathogens are more dangerous when infected in the last days before childbirth. An example is chicken pox.
Early infection in most cases causes miscarriage, to severe physiological abnormalities of the fetus.
Late infection can be characterized by the fact that the newborn will show symptoms that significantly impair the quality of life.

In order to identify the degree of risk and determine how the symptoms will manifest in the future, they often conduct an ultrasound study, and also take a blood test. Only after determining the type of infection can the correct treatment be prescribed.

Risk group

As a rule, preventing the onset is easier than treating the symptoms that appear. We note the following risk group:

Health care workers encounter infections throughout their work. That is why it should be borne in mind that women should undergo periodic examinations to identify problems.
Women who have a school-age child are also at risk. Schools are a public place where children can become infected and become a carrier.
Employees of kindergartens, schools and public institutions also become carriers of diseases.
Pregnant women who have chronic inflammatory diseases are also at risk.
Women who have given birth before and have passed the pathogen to their child are also at risk.
In the event that the death of the fetus has previously occurred, as well as the development of a defect.
Outflow of amniotic fluid earlier than the established date.

The above points should be considered in order to exclude the possibility of infection of the body before pregnancy.

What are the signs of maternal infection?

There are quite a few signs that a woman has an infection that is in an active or inactive phase. These include the following:

A significant increase in body temperature. It should be borne in mind that pregnancy does not cause an increase in body temperature. Fever is a sign that the immune system is fighting an infection. Therefore, one should take into account the moment that a significant increase in body temperature is the main sign of the onset of the disease.
An increase in lymph nodes in size also indicates a problem.
Severe shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain and many other points indicate that there is a virus in the body.
Conjunctivitis, lacrimation, runny nose - another sign that a woman has significant health problems.
Swelling of the joints indicates that inflammatory processes are taking place in the body.

As a rule, the above signs indicate the presence of allergies, non-communicable diseases, and dangerous infections. Any changes should cause a visit to the doctor. Intrauterine infection during pregnancy is observed by doctors for a long period.

CMV

When considering what can change the course of pregnancy, the possibility of CMV virus in the body of a pregnant woman should be taken into account. What is CMV? This pathogen belongs to the group of herpes viruses, usually transmitted sexually or through the blood. In some cases, it is likely that the transmission of the pathogen will pass through household contact. This virus cannot be transmitted antenatally.

According to studies, almost half of women in Europe are faced with the virus in question once in their lives. Even if the virus is not in the active phase, it can significantly harm the fetus. CMV in most cases affects the fetus in the third semester, but with infection in the first semester, the consequences are more severe. According to studies, the risk of infection in a child is 30-40%, and in 90% the symptoms do not manifest themselves. Quite a lot of attention is paid to intrauterine infection of the fetus due to the fact that 10% of newborns have a lot of symptoms.

Despite the low percentage of infection and the manifestation of symptoms, the signs of the manifestation of the problem can be called the following list:

A miscarriage occurs when the fetus is infected in the first trimester.
Low birth weight or dystrophy.
Significant hearing loss or congenital deafness.
Brain development disorder.
Accumulation of fluid in the brain.
development of pneumonia.
Damage to the liver and spleen.
Blindness in varying degrees of manifestation.
Delay in the development of the child.

If a combination of symptoms occurs, then the child dies in the first months of life. Many people develop individual deviations: deafness, blindness, mental retardation. But the symptoms are not always expressed by health problems, since the virus may not be transmitted. There are practically no effective means of removing the virus from the body of a newborn. There are drugs that can significantly alleviate the symptoms of eye damage or pneumonia. Many doctors argue that the development of CMV is not a reason for terminating a pregnancy, since with proper treatment, there is a high probability of having an absolutely healthy baby.

HSV

The most common is the herpes simplex virus. When it is transmitted sexually, there is a possibility that the baby has a herpes infection. It is worth considering the moment that in the first 28 days after birth, symptoms of the disease in question may appear. Often, the infection passes at the time of passage of the child through the birth canal.

The consequences for the child with an untimely appointment of treatment, if the mother has a herpes virus, are as follows:

Miscarriage.
Appetite worsens significantly, fever occurs.
Pneumonia.
Eye damage.
The appearance of a characteristic rash on the body.
Some degree of brain damage.

The most difficult situation can be called the case when, on the 4-7th day of life after birth, all symptoms begin to appear. When the damage to the child's organs passes, there is a chance that he will die from shock. The virus often infects the brain, which leads to significant changes. That is why congenital disability occurs quite often in children due to the congenital hepatitis virus. However, it should be borne in mind that the virus is quite dangerous, but often not transmitted to the child at birth. The simplest form of manifestation is the appearance of skin diseases and eye damage.

Often, treatment takes place in the 3rd trimester with special antiviral drugs. That is why it is imperative to consult a doctor. Herpes can be manifested by the appearance of a certain rash on the genitals, and during pregnancy, the disease is transmitted. With a bright manifestation of symptoms, doctors may prescribe a caesarean section.

In conclusion, we note that when planning a pregnancy, you should undergo a thorough examination to identify hidden chronic diseases and viral infections. Only after treatment can pregnancy be planned, otherwise the child may develop very serious problems leading to disability. If the problem was identified already at the time of pregnancy, then a certain course of treatment is prescribed, which will eliminate the possibility of transmitting the virus from mother to child. However, there is a chance that the doctor will recommend terminating the pregnancy due to the development of a serious virus in the mother's body. Do not forget that some infections during pregnancy are very, very dangerous.

The state of pregnancy imposes on the woman a certain responsibility for the health of the unborn child. Poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle and bad habits can negatively affect the health of the baby and this is the responsibility of the mother. These risks include intrauterine infections.

Intrauterine infections are caused by pathogenic microorganisms that enter the baby's body from the mother's body. A woman can become infected before pregnancy or during pregnancy. The consequences of the disease of the mother can be different up to spontaneous abortion or death from intrauterine infection of the newborn.

In the international community, causative agents of intrauterine infections are called TORCH. Within the disease are divided into five groups according to the similarity of symptoms. In one group, similar symptoms and consequences.

The name TORCH is an acronym and stands for:

T- stands for toxoplasmosis

ABOUT– Others (this group includes infectious diseases such as syphilis, chlamydia, enterovirus infection, hepatitis A and B, listeriosis, gonococcal infection, measles and mumps)

R– rubella

WITH- cytomegalovirus infection

H– herpes

Intrauterine infections can be divided into 4 groups according to the type of pathogen.

In some cases, the patient may be a carrier of several infections from different groups. Such circumstances complicate the diagnosis and complicate the treatment. The risk of adverse development of such a pregnancy increases significantly.

Fetal infection

The causes of intrauterine infection of the fetus, through which the pathogen is transmitted from mother to child, lie in the integrity of the organism and the existence of different ways of communication between the maternal and child bodies. It could be:

Placental or hematogenous infection.
Ascending.
Downward.
Contact.

With placental infection, the virus enters the child's body, breaking the placental barrier. Ascending infection is called the penetration of the pathogen through the genital tract, and downward movement of the infection through the fallopian tubes. Contact infection occurs during the passage of the fetus through the birth canal during childbirth. The source of infection in this case is the amniotic fluid.

Where does intrauterine infection come from during pregnancy?

The causative agents of many diseases are classified as "opportunistic pathogens" - which means they can live in the human body without showing themselves in any way until the body weakens. Such representatives can be staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, fungi of the genus Candida and others. In the event of a weakening of the body, these microorganisms are activated, begin to multiply and cause disease.

A woman's pregnancy is accompanied by:

An increase in the load on the woman's body;
Restructuring of the hormonal background;
Increased load on the excretory organs.

The consequence of all of the above is the weakening of the patient's immunity, and the body's defenses can no longer restrain the reproduction of pathogenic flora.

Other pathogens enter the body of a woman from the outside:

If the rules of personal hygiene are not observed.
With casual sexual contact.
When visiting potentially dangerous places.
When carrying out cosmetic or medical procedures.

Intrauterine infection during pregnancy, depending on the pathogen, can be manifested by the following diseases:

HIV infection.
Syphilis.
Staphylococcus.
Herpes.
Rubella.
Gonorrhea.
Candidiasis.
Hepatitis.
Toxoplasmosis.
SARS.
Chlamydia and other diseases.

Almost any of the infections, once in the mother's body, affects the fetus. This article discusses the most common diseases

HIV infection

The insidiousness of HIV infection lies in the fact that its latent period can be up to one and a half years. If a woman has been infected, then she may not know about it at the time of pregnancy planning, and modern medicine, for a favorable pregnancy outcome, insists on preliminary drug treatment in HIV-positive mothers at least 14 days before conception. If an HIV infection is detected in a woman after the start of pregnancy, the patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs to reduce the amount of virus in the blood and reduce the risk of infection passing through the placental barrier. In the early stages of fetal development, the risk of transmission of the disease from mother to child is low, but during childbirth, the risk increases. HIV infection increases the chances of preterm birth. The probability of infection of the fetus at the time of passage of the birth canal is 1:7. After birth, the child can become infected during breastfeeding, so the child is prescribed special infant formula.

The consequences of carrying a child to a mother with a positive reaction to HIV with a high degree of probability can be expected:

Risks of spontaneous miscarriages.
Stillbirths.
Hypotrophy.
CNS lesions.
Chronic diarrhea.
Oral thrush.
developmental delays.

To prevent intrauterine infection, an HIV-positive woman is given antiretroviral therapy, which uses didanosine and phosphazide, which replace the commonly used zidovudine and nevirapine. These drugs are used to prevent infection of the fetus during the gestation stage.

Syphilis

If the causative agent of syphilis is present in the body of a woman before pregnancy, the infection of the fetus occurs transplacental. If the mother is not treated during pregnancy, the disease manifests itself immediately after birth or in the coming weeks.

The newborn may experience the following symptoms:

Skin rashes;
Saddle nose;
Enlarged liver;
inflamed spleen;
Eye lesions (cataract iridocyclitis);
Meningitis;
Damage to the skeletal system.

Laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis is a blood test for RW (Wasserman reaction). In the absence of drug treatment during the period of bearing a child, the mortality rate of newborns reaches 30%. Antibiotics of the penicillin group are used as treatment.

Staphylococcus aureus

Refers to conditionally pathogenic flora. Modern science has classified more than 70 types of staphylococci, of which 4 are the main danger during pregnancy.

Golden - causes purulent formations.
Epidermal - causes sepsis, conjunctivitis, endocarditis, purulent urinary tract infections.
Saprophytic - is the cause of urethritis, acute cystitis, inflammation of the bladder, kidneys.
Hemolytic - causes tonsillitis or tonsillitis. Provokes inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract.

To diagnose the presence of staphylococcus aureus, swabs are taken from the mucous membranes and cultured.

The presence of staphylococci in a woman's body can manifest itself as pneumonia, various inflammatory processes, tonsillitis, tonsillitis. Lack of treatment can bring any of these processes to sepsis - that is, general blood poisoning, and this is already fraught with a fatal outcome for both the mother and the fetus.

Infection with Staphylococcus aureus often leads to infection of the fetus, as the staphylococcus aureus crosses the placental barrier.

Antibiotics, bacteriophages and immunomodulating agents are used to treat staphylococcal infections. Of the external agents, rinsing with alcohol antiseptic solutions and quartzing are prescribed. To avoid infection of the fetus, the mother is prescribed toxoid.

Herpes

Herpes manifests itself in four forms:

Generalized (common).
Neurological.
Herpes of mucous membranes and skin.
Multiple (leads to sepsis).

Complications of herpes can lead to deafness, blindness, developmental delays or abnormalities

Herpes simplex is manifested by a rash on the skin, stomatitis, conjunctivitis, jaundice, neurological abnormalities may begin. Virological studies are carried out to confirm the diagnosis.

Interferon, immunoglobulin, detoxification agents are used for treatment. Good effect gives blood transfusion. Mortality reaches 50%, but even after rehabilitation it is not always possible to avoid changes in the central nervous system.

Rubella

Rubella, carried by the mother before pregnancy, does not adversely affect the fetus. Whereas infection with rubella in the first one and a half to two months of pregnancy gives 80% of the possibility of infecting a child. Subsequently, the likelihood of infection decreases. Rubella disease provokes prematurity of the child, jaundice and skin rashes.

Deviations in development provoked by rubella:

Damage to the eye muscles.
Congenital heart defects.
Retinopathy or complete deafness.
anomaly in the structure of the sky.
Hepatitis.
Deviations in the development of the skeleton.
Physical or mental retardation.

Treatment consists in bed rest, gargling with an antiseptic solution. In early pregnancy, termination of the pregnancy may be recommended, as well as later if there is evidence of fetal damage.

Gonorrhea

The causative agent of gonorrhea increases the possibility of spontaneous abortion, or intrauterine fetal death. Possible consequences of infection of the fetus:

Visual impairment to complete blindness.
Meningitis.
General sepsis.

Diagnosis is carried out by laboratory methods by taking a swab from the vagina, treatment of intrauterine infection - antibiotics of the penicillin group.

Candidiasis (thrush)

Fungi of the genus Candida can be in the body of a woman for years without manifesting itself. Only changes in the hormonal background, weakening of the immune system can allow them to be active. Thrush infection can manifest itself:

Spontaneous abortion.
Premature birth.
Accession of a secondary infection.
Early discharge of amniotic fluid.
Inflammation of the placenta (chorioamnionitis).
Endometritis in the postpartum period.
Infection in the birth canal.
Tears in the tissues of the birth canal.

At the site of the breaks, scars are formed from the connective tissue, which does not have the property of elasticity. Under the action of the passing fetus, the tissues are torn.

Intrauterine infection is fraught with the following consequences:

Hypoxia.
Stomatitis.
Low weight.

As a treatment for the mother, suppositories are used, for children, antifungal drugs in the form of capsules and powders.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is called inflammation of the liver. They come in several varieties and are very dangerous for the health of the mother and child. The most common consequences of intrauterine infection of the fetus are: fetal death due to intoxication of the mother's body and infection of the newborn during childbirth or in utero.

If a healthy child is born to a mother who is a carrier of the hepatitis virus, the child must receive a set of vaccinations against hepatitis on the first day of life, the first of which is given no later than 12 hours after birth. Viral hepatitis, like other infectious diseases, is diagnosed in the laboratory.

Toxoplasmosis

Infection with toxoplasmosis occurs through contact with animals that are carriers of the disease (mainly cats), eating raw vegetables and fruits, or meat and fish that have not undergone appropriate heat treatment. Infection long before the onset of pregnancy does not adversely affect the course of gestation and the fetus. In case of infection with toxoplasmosis during the initial stage of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage reaches 15%. At later stages, the risk decreases, but the possibility of transplacental infection increases.

This intrauterine infection has the following consequences in the newborn:

Heart defects.
Low weight.
Lag in development.
Weakened immunity.
Deviations in the development of the central nervous system.
Meningitis.
Encephalitis.
Jaundice.
Strabismus.
Blindness.

Possible death. Toxoplasmosis is treated with bacteriostatic drugs. If toxoplasmosis is detected in a pregnant woman for up to 22 weeks, it is recommended to terminate the pregnancy.

SARS

ARVI seems like a harmless banal cold, but it also negatively affects a woman's ability to bear a child, like other infections. SARS in the early stages can cause spontaneous abortion, cause intrauterine death of the fetus. Later (after 12 weeks) infection causes disorders of the central nervous system, hypoxia, weakens the placental barrier.

Doctors note that SARS at the initial stage of pregnancy is especially dangerous. It is at the beginning of pregnancy that the formation of the main organs, tissues and systems of the child's body occurs. The influenza virus provokes the appearance of some pathologies in the development of the internal organs of the fetus. Therefore, if infection occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy, the doctor must send the patient for an additional ultrasound examination in order to avoid the consequences of exposure to intrauterine infections. To avoid contracting the flu during the season, it is best to avoid visiting crowded places and avoid contact with sick people if possible.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is one of the so-called STDs - they used to be called venereal. These infections are transmitted during sexual intercourse, so being careful in choosing a partner will help avoid infection. In the first stage of pregnancy, chlamydia can cause:

Spontaneous abortion.
Oxygen starvation of the fetus.
intrauterine developmental arrest.

Infection of the fetus can occur during gestation or during childbirth. Diagnosis is made in the laboratory, when examining a smear from the vagina. Possible pathologies:

Conjunctivitis.
Rhinitis.
Colpitis.
Pneumonia.
Liver damage.
Kidney.
Stomach.
Lungs.

Treatment is with a course of antibiotics

Cytomegaly

Depending on the period of infection, there may be the following consequences of infection entering the body in the first trimester:

Spontaneous miscarriage.
Pathologies of the development of the internal organs of the fetus.

In the second trimester:

developmental delay
Pathology of internal organs.

In the third trimester:

CNS diseases develop.
Reflects on the cardiovascular system.
Liver.
Vision.
Respiratory system.

The consequences of infection resulting from labor can lead to immunodeficiency, purulent formations on the child's skin, an inflammatory process in the lungs or liver. It is also possible manifestations of jaundice, hemorrhoids, pneumonia and other diseases, both immediately after childbirth, and after some time.

Hearing and vision organs may be affected. For treatment drugs are used:

Isoprinosine.
Various preparations containing interferon.
Antiviral Acyclovir and Panavir.

As a preventive measure against infection, vaccines are being developed to form active immunity. Passive immunity can be obtained by taking immunoglobulin.

Methods for diagnosing intrauterine infections

What are the symptoms of intrauterine infection in the fetus during pregnancy and in the newborn? It can be quite difficult to determine intrauterine infection in a fetus during pregnancy. Very often, the clinical picture of the child's condition is blurred by the visible well-being of the mother's health. That is why the planning of pregnancy and childbirth should be approached with the utmost responsibility. Before pregnancy, you should visit a antenatal clinic, undergo an examination and exclude all possible infections. If the results of the tests give a positive reaction to any virus, you should undergo treatment.

For the entire period of pregnancy, the patient is repeatedly tested for intrauterine infections. They include blood tests for the TORCH complex of infections, syphilis, and HIV. To be sure that there is no intrauterine infection, one should rely on a complex of ultrasound examination and analysis of intrauterine infections (amniocentesis, chorionic biopsy, cordocentesis). After the birth of a child, it will be possible to conduct tests and examine the placenta, take a blood test from a newborn, and examine the abdominal organs using ultrasound.

Here are the main causes of intrauterine infections. Of course, there are much more infections themselves and the number of people affected by them is simply huge. Nearly 10 percent of newborns are born with the infection or acquire it during childbirth. And nearly 10 percent of those infected fall ill within the first four weeks of life. The causes of intrauterine infection of the fetus are known and the consequences are predictable. An infection that is not treated during the neonatal period, if it does not provoke a lethal outcome in the neonatal period, will go into a chronic form. Long-term presence of the pathogen in the body causes chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys, rheumatism, diabetes mellitus, lesions of the nervous system and others.

Common clinical symptoms of intrauterine infections

When talking about the symptoms of intrauterine infections, they recall prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation, immaturity, congenital malformations and other severe pathologies. In this case, it is worth mentioning minimal tissue malformations, hypoxia, respiratory distress syndrome, hyaline membrane disease, and edematous syndrome. You can talk about other lighter consequences: regurgitation, refusal to eat, pathological weight loss, skin lesions (rash, erosion, pyoderma), high temperature in the first days of life.

At any forum dedicated to intrauterine infections, one can read reports of severe and persistent hyperbilirubinemia, neurological symptoms, infectious lesions of various organs and systems (conjunctivitis, otitis media, pneumonia, myocarditis, endocarditis, enterocolitis, meningoencephalitis, generalized infection).

Prevention of intrauterine infections

As a prophylaxis of intrauterine infections, only one remedy can be advised: In order not to infect her unborn child, the mother should not get sick herself. Those diseases that used to be called sexually transmitted diseases (and now they are STDs) - in order to avoid infection with them, a woman must responsibly choose a partner for sex or insist on using a condom.

To avoid hepatitis A, you need to wash your hands more often, avoid drinking raw water, and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating. An appropriate vaccination will help to avoid congenital rubella, and the same is true for hepatitis B.

Before deciding on the birth of a child, it is imperative to be examined and tested for the presence of syphilis, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis B, HIV infection, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia. It is necessary to check before conception for the presence of streptococci in the birth canal, and if pathogens of certain infections are found, the mother must be treated before pregnancy.

Risk factors for intrauterine infection

Intrauterine infection can develop in any pregnancy, but there are indications that significantly increase the risk. Below are some of them.

Chronic disease in the mother - infection of the genitourinary system
Miscarriages noted in the medical history, stillbirths, children born with pathologies
The course of this pregnancy - the presence of threats of interruption, past infections, polyhydramnios
The course of childbirth - pathology of the placenta, weak labor activity, the smell of amniotic fluid, fever

In custody

So, you can reduce the risk of developing intrauterine infection if you follow some recommendations:

Pregnancy should be planned, having previously been examined by doctors and having passed all the necessary tests.
During gestation, a woman must follow the rules of hygiene and be attentive to her body.
If the tests show the presence of pathogenic microflora, treatment should be carried out.

Following these simple rules will help a woman safely carry her child and enjoy the happiness of motherhood for many years.

Intrauterine infection in a newborn is a special group of diseases that a baby becomes infected with even before birth. Cases of infection are also recorded directly during labor. Infections of this nature can lead to fetal death, miscarriage, or abnormal development.

Cases were recorded when pathologies led to early childbirth, defects, and severe damage to the central nervous system. That is why it is advisable to carry out diagnostics in a timely manner. It involves the implementation of research at the microscopic level. Additionally, functioning, immunity, enzymes, interaction of molecules and correctness in the work of biological processes are analyzed.

Treatment of infections of this nature is carried out with the help of immunoglobulins, modulators. A woman is prescribed regular intake of antiviral drugs, the action of which is aimed at destroying bacteria.

Intrauterine infection in newborns is observed in the presence of pathologies in certain processes. The situation is observed against the background of infection of the fetus. To date, it has not been possible to fully determine the route of infection. Today, about 10% of all children are born with this disease. This problem is especially acute in pediatrics, because of this a large number of deaths and the development of diseases immediately after birth are recorded. Parents are advised to pay attention to the prevention of infection. In this case, it will be possible to reduce the risk of developing dangerous diseases.

Diagnosis of infection is prescribed during pregnancy

Causes of diseases

The process of infection with these diseases begins even at the time the fetus is in the womb. The risk of infection also remains during labor. In this case, the carrier of the infection is the mother. The disease can be transmitted vertically or ascending. It all depends on the location of viruses and bacteria.

Only in rare cases, infection of a pregnant woman has been observed during diagnosis, which involved a biopsy or other specific procedures. The risk increases with the introduction of drugs to the baby through the blood, plasma.

Viral agents can be transmitted by the antenatal route. In this case, the fetus can be infected with rubella, herpes, hepatitis, HIV. Due to intracellular pathogens, toxoplasmosis or mycoplasmosis is diagnosed.

An important role is played by the state of the birth canal and the process of the birth of the baby. At this stage, there is a risk of microbes entering the baby's body in various ways. Among bacteria, the possibility of infection with streptococci, Proteus, Klebsiella and others is increased. The placenta is initially used as an effective barrier. However, even a slight damage to it can lead to the development of insufficiency. Through small holes, harmful bacteria can enter without any special obstacles. Among them, the syphilis virus is of particular danger.

The history of the mother and the presence of previously unfavorable pregnancies are also taken into account. The risk of intrauterine infections also increases if the baby was born prematurely. Additionally, the period in which the woman was infected (before and after the onset of pregnancy) is analyzed.

During childbirth, the doctor analyzes the main properties of amniotic fluid

The child is directly affected by the period of infection, as well as the virus that caused the development of pathology. For example, if the pathogen got inside during the first ten weeks of pregnancy, then it will end in an independent miscarriage. If the infection occurred at the twelfth week, then most likely the child will be born dead or he will have serious malformations in the development of internal organs and systems. Infection of the fetus from the second trimester is fraught with abnormal development of individual internal organs or the presence of a pronounced generalized infection after birth.

It should be noted that the symptoms are radically different in mother and child. Even if no negative manifestations were found in a woman, serious lesions can subsequently be detected in the fetus.

The possibility of a stillbirth cannot be completely ruled out. Viruses and bacteria tend to penetrate deep into the tissue and disrupt the central nervous system, heart and other important organs.

Symptoms of infections

The consequences of infection of the baby are visible even in the process of labor. The doctor pays attention to the condition of the amniotic fluid - they become cloudy, they contain a lot of meconium. The patient may feel unwell. If a child has an intrauterine infection, then the risk of having a baby with asphyxia, a large liver and other defects in general development increases. As a rule, rubella, pyoderma and various profuse skin rashes are additionally diagnosed. Some babies have fever, convulsions, various respiratory and cardiac disorders.

Antenatal intrauterine infection can lead to pneumonia, myocarditis, anemia and other diseases that appear within a few days after the baby is born. Next, the child is examined using special medical equipment. With its help, it is possible to identify diseases of the organs of vision, defects in the work of the heart, the presence of cysts and improper functioning of the brain.

With IUI, a child may develop pathologies

The neonatologist pays attention to the baby in the postpartum period. In the presence of diseases, he often burps, there is muscle weakness, an incorrect reaction of the central nervous system. The skin is examined regularly. It is not allowed that it be a pronounced gray color. Intrauterine infections have a different incubation period. Each disease is analyzed separately depending on the nature and specification of manifestation.

Each individual TORCH infection has different methods of diagnosis and treatment. It is recommended to consult in detail with a specialist in this field.

The main types of infections

Intrauterine infection is a broad concept. Its division is carried out depending on the source of the formation of the disease:

In medical practice, it is customary to combine the most common diseases with a special abbreviation - TORCH.

This syndrome includes toxoplasmosis, rubella, herpes and other lesions.

Including the study is carried out for the presence of HIV, hepatitis, smallpox, mycoplasmosis, syphilis.

Toxoplasmosis: features of infection

The disease is diagnosed if the fetus in the womb was infected with Toxoplasma Gondii cells. Pathology can lead to abnormal development, the presence of malformations of the brain, heart and other internal organs.

Diagnosis is made immediately after the birth of the baby. The infection manifests itself in the form of severe fever, jaundice, swelling, stool disorders, and periodic convulsions. Additionally, the baby may have symptoms of meningitis and encephalitis. If the disease becomes chronic, then the situation is aggravated by strabismus or complete atrophy of the optic nerve. Unfortunately, the infection can be fatal before delivery.

At a late stage in the development of the disease, the baby develops epilepsy and complete blindness.

Features of rubella in utero infection

Infection is carried out in the case of the transfer of the disease during the period of gestation. In the first eight weeks, the probability reaches eighty percent. In the second trimester, it drops to twenty, and in the third - to eight percent.

If the child has an illness, he will be born prematurely and will not gain weight well. Additionally, a rash and obvious manifestations of jaundice can be seen on the skin.

Rubella of a congenital nature is dangerous by the manifestation of the following symptoms:

partial or complete damage to the eye muscle;
wps();
insufficient tone of the auditory nerve.

If the infection hit the baby in the second part of pregnancy, then he can be born with retinopathy or complete deafness.

Anomalies against the background of the transferred rubella are extensive. Defects can manifest themselves in the structure of the palate, hepatitis, abnormal structure of the skeleton or the genitourinary system. Infection is dangerous because the child may further lag behind in physical and mental development.

Diagnosis should be carried out during pregnancy and after the baby is born.

Cytomegaly: features of infection and the course of infection

This type of infection is dangerous because it leads to severe damage to the internal systems of a sick child. A complication can also lead to immunodeficiency or the appearance of purulent skin lesions. Defects can be either congenital or appear at a certain period of development. In the postpartum period, jaundice, hemorrhoids, pneumonia, anemia and other diseases may appear.

Subsequently, the organs of vision, liver, deafness and other diseases remain at risk.

Intrauterine infection with herpes

Herpes infection can manifest itself in several forms:

the generalized form is characterized by toxicosis, the presence of respiratory diseases, jaundice, diseases of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, hemorrhoids;
neurological;
damage to the mucous membrane and skin.

If the bacterial infection becomes multiple, then the child is diagnosed with sepsis.

Herpes is a dangerous infection that can lead to a number of complications. Among the most dangerous are complete deafness, blindness, abnormal development or lag in it.

Features of the diagnosis

Today, the diagnosis of intrauterine infections is quite acute. It is necessary to find out about the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi as early as possible. To do this, a smear is taken in the gynecologist's office, sowing for the presence of bacteria and the state of the microflora. In some cases, PCR or a complex TORCH analysis is additionally prescribed. Invasive prenatal diagnosis should be carried out only for those women who are in.

The gynecologist will also be able to consider certain markers during an ultrasound examination. Attention should be paid to diagnosis in the event that low or polyhydramnios and other pathologies of pregnancy development were previously diagnosed. If there are deviations, the doctor additionally prescribes a study of the features of the functioning of the heart and blood flow.

The study must be additionally carried out even after the birth of the baby. For this, microbiological tests are carried out. DNA research should be done. For this, serological research methods are used. An important role is played by the result of the histology of the placenta, which can also be performed after childbirth.

If the baby is suspected of having any intrauterine infection, then during the first day of life he should be constantly under the supervision of a neurologist, cardiologist and other specialists in the field of childhood diseases. At their discretion, tests are prescribed to identify pathologies in the development of hearing, vision and other internal organs.

In order to prevent a woman should be regularly examined by a gynecologist

Basic principles of treatment of infections

At the first stage of eliminating pathologies, it is necessary to take drugs to increase immunity, against the development of viral, bacterial and other diseases.

To improve immunity, it is necessary to use special modulators and immunoglobulins. Acyclovir is most often used against viruses. Effective therapy against bacteria involves the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Therapy must be carried out alternately to get rid of each individual symptom. Otherwise, the risk of pathologies in the work of the central nervous system increases. As a result, the child may experience problems in the work of the heart and lungs.

Infection prevention

If a patient is diagnosed with a generalized form of the infection, then the probability of passing it on to her child is eighty percent. With local manifestations, the risk of damage to only individual internal organs increases. Unfortunately, almost every infection can lead to problems in the central nervous system in the future.

The main methods of prevention involve a complete examination of the patient before pregnancy. During gestation, you should protect yourself from contact with sick people. If a woman has not previously had rubella and has not been vaccinated against it, then an injection must be made three months before the planned pregnancy. Additionally, it should be noted that some cases of infection involve termination of pregnancy at any time.