Calling All Pregnant Women: What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

Calling All Pregnant Women: What You Need to Know About the Zika Virus

If you are a pregnant woman then you need to be extra wary of the Zika virus. A pregnant woman who contracts the virus near the beginning of their pregnancy are at a great risk of miscarrying and having a child burdened with the birth defect microcephaly, which cause underdeveloped heads and brains in newborns. There is no treatment for microcephaly. Only 10 percent of babies born with microcephaly have a normal intelligence, and many of these children will never be independent or even learn to walk and talk. They also tend to have shortened life span. Around 80 percent of the people who contract the disease show no symptoms, so you could catch it while traveling abroad and not even know it. The CDC has recommended that pregnant women delay any travel to affected areas, and that pregnant women who have returned from one of these areas should get tested for the virus. If you develop a fever, pink eye, a rash, or joint pain, you should immediately see your doctor to get checked for the virus. If you do contract the virus, officials recommend that you have regular ultrasound exams to monitor the growth of the fetus and seek out an infectious disease specialist.

Are you a pregnant woman planning to travel to an area affected by the Zika virus? Are you aware of the danger to your unborn child? Are you taking the proper precautions?