Infections & Vaccinations

Last week a pregnant nurse patient and a pregnant GP patient asked me whether they could have the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant. In the vaccine rollout they are category 1b because of their professions. I advised them, with there being no local COVID-19 cases for so...

I have been getting more questions about Zika Virus, as it becomes more of a global concern. What is the concern with Zika virus? The main concern with Zika virus has to do with birth defects. Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause birth defects...

What are chickenpox and shingles? Chickenpox and shingles are infections which are caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox begins with a feeling of being generally unwell. You develop a mild fever, malaise and itchy rash that turns into small blisters (hence...

I have a cold! Coughs and colds are more likely in pregnancy if you are run down, overstressed, doing too much and in some professions. What can be done? Minimise risk factors. Avoid contact with people who are infected. If you do get a cold, you can take paracetamol,...

What are the risks of the flu (influenza) infection if I’m pregnant? Pregnancy can increase your risk of having more serious complications from the flu because your immune system is suppressed in pregnancy. Complications of the flu infection in pregnant women are the...

What is the concern with Group B Strep? Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacteria that commonly colonises a woman’s vagina. Studies of pregnant women have identified GBS in vaginal swabs of 15 to 25% of pregnant women. These women do not have any symptoms – no related...

Contents What is hand, foot and mouth disease? What are the symptoms? How is it spread? Is there risk to my pregnancy? How can it be prevented? How is it diagnosed? How is it treated? What is hand, foot and mouth disease?   Hand, foot and mouth...

Listeriosis in Pregnancy Listeriosis is a rare disease that causes mild or no maternal illness but can be devastating to the foetus in some cases leading to severe disease or even foetal death. The bacteria organism that causes Listeria is a common and can be easily...

I have come in contact with a child with slapped cheek infection. Should I be worried? Erythema infectiosum is also known as ‘slapped cheek disease‘ or ‘fifth disease‘ and is a common childhood viral infection caused by human parvovirus B19. Fifty to sixty percent of...

I keep on getting thrush now that I am pregnant! Vaginal thrush (also called Candida or Monilia) is a common infection due to an overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast. This yeast lives naturally in the bowel and in some women in the vagina. Some women have thrush in...

Whooping Cough and Pregnancy Pertussis (whooping cough) is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. There is no evidence that if you develop whooping cough in pregnancy your baby will be harmed while it is inside you. The risk to your baby has to do with once...