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Nov
Exposure To Shingles While Pregnant. If exposed non-immune pregnant women should be evaluated for postexposure prophylaxis. Although rare the development of HZ does occur during pregnancy. But even if you did the risk to your baby would be negligible. Varicella Zoster Shingles localized Contact with lesions Standard precautions The non-immune HCW should not care for varicella patients.
If you are not immune you can be given treatment which may reduce the risk to you and your baby. A HCW may request reassignment to avoid risk of exposure. Shingles most commonly affects older adults and people with compromised immune systems. If the exposed person received varicella immunoglobulin VZIG then heshe is considered infectious 8 to 28 days following exposure. Exposed non-immune persons are potentially infectious 8 to 21 days following exposure. She is worried that she may be at-risk to develop this as well.
But even if you did the risk to your baby would be negligible.
A HCW may request reassignment to avoid risk of exposure. Maternal HZ does not result in increased foetal mortality and the passage of VZV to the foetus rarely occurs. Likewise shingles could also cause problems for your unborn child. Although rare the development of HZ does occur during pregnancy. Wait until the lesions on your skin have healed especially if the rash is on a part of your body that isnt covered by clothes. People with chickenpox are more likely to spread VZV than people with shingles.