With all the dengue madness around and mosquitoes everywhere, we cannot help but wonder about some of the vulnerables. Have you ever contemplated how does this fast-spreading illness affect those with child? Flair sought the counsel of gynaecologist Dr Kirian Bridgewater for answers.

Spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, dengue, a serious viral illness, can cause a number of issues for pregnant women, just as the rest of the population. These include fever, joint pains, rashes, headaches, nausea, vomiting and abnormal bleeding. And according to the doctor, “pregnant women are more susceptible to developing the severe form of the infection”.

Unfortunately, infected mothers can transfer the virus to their unborn child during pregnancy and childbirth. It gets worse. Dengue also places the foetus at risk of a low birthweight, premature birth and even death.

TREATMENT

“Pregnant women with dengue are treated similarly to non-pregnant persons. They are given Paracetamol (e.g., Panadol) to reduce the fever and fluids to rehydrate them, and are counseled to avoid any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g., ibuprofen, cataflam and voltaren,” she said.

Dr Bridgewater added that these women are to be monitored more closely, oftentimes in the hospital, given that there are two lives at risk and they are more susceptible to a severe course of the disease. This is also to ensure that blood tests are done to make certain their platelet levels are within normal limits.

DENGUE OR PRE-ECLAMPSIA

Some of the marks that indicate dengue, such as headache, vomiting and abnormal bleeding as a result of low platelets also occur in pre-eclampsia. This may at times cause a misdiagnosis. However, as the expert explained, after your doctor looks at your history carefully and conducts examinations, he or she should be able to rule out one.TIPS

Dr Bridgewater is offering these tips to remind you of how to prevent dengue during pregnancy.

• Avoid being outside during dusk and dawn, that’s approximately two hours after sunrise and before sunset. This is when the Aedes aegypti mosquito is most active.
• Use window screens and bed netting.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of your skin exposed for mosquito bites.
• Use insect repellents. Many people believe that you cannot use repellents containing DEET when you are pregnant, but many studies have been done that show that this is not true. The repellents are most effective at fighting off mosquitoes, and is recommended by international organisations like the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.
• If you’re uncomfortable using repellent with DEET, you can also use essential oils, such as oil of lemon, eucalyptus and citronella oil. They are slightly less effective, but is definitely better than no repellent at all.
• Also, we all, pregnant women included, need to help prevent dengue by reducing mosquito breeding sites. This can be done by ensuring there are no areas of standing water around.

Story by Rocheda Bartley

rocheda.bartley@gleanerjm.com