Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

What is the risk of SHINGLES in a pregnant lady?

Resolved Question:

My wife is currently 5 months pregnant. We are set to see her grandmother tomorrow, who just had a flare up with shingles this past week. My wife has already had the chicken pox when she was younger. Our question is if it is okay to go ahead with visiting the grandmother, or should we skip until her shingles subsides? We are concerned about any possible exposure to our little one that is on the way.

Category: Family Physician-GP

Ask Your Own Question

Category: HIV- AIDS Specialist
 27 Doctors Online

Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com.



I understand your concern and will do my best to help you.

You can safely go ahead with the visit.

The only way your little one would be affected is if your wife did not have chickenpox earlier and developed an infection now.

Since she has had chickenpox in her childhood, she has lifelong immunity against the Varicella zoster virus(VZV), which causes both chickenpox and its reactivation-shingles.

Reactivation of VZV occurs either in the elderly or immunocompromised host. Even if your wife is exposed to her grandmother now, there is hardly any risk of her getting infected as she is already immune; and practically no risk for your baby as long as he/she is safe inside the womb.

In fact, the fetus of an immune pregnant woman exposed to the varicella zoster virus(VZV), is safe from VZV. It is well documented in the literature that IgG antibodies are transplacentally(through the placenta) passed to the fetus providing the necessary immunity. These antibodies persist in the newborns for up to 6 months of life.



I hope that was helpful.

Feel free to ask queries.

Thank you.



Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy
Category: HIV- AIDS Specialist
Experience: 
MBBS from Sri Ramachandra University in December 2011
M.Med (Family Medicine) - TNMGR University, Chennai
MBA-MPH in Public Health in March 2016, SRM University
Finished AFIH in March 2016, SRM University
MRCP ( UK ), Internal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, June 2016
Fellowship in Diabetology from Martin Luther University in January 2017

Currently Resident Physician, in MD Radiodiagnosis - Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, Chennai
Dr. Jaydeep Tripathy and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news