How high is the risk of infection? | Pfeiffersches glandular fever in the pregnancy – so dangerously is that!

How high is the risk of infection?

The virus that causes the Pfeiffer’s glandular fever is classified as highly contagious. This means that an infection is very likely to occur upon contact with the virus – it is therefore easily transmitted from person to person. The transmission takes place by droplet infection.

Above all, the saliva of a sick person is highly infectious, so that the disease is easily transmitted when kissing. This is why it owes its name “kissing disease”. There is no increased risk of infection for pregnant women compared to the rest of the population.

In order to protect themselves, it is recommended to avoid contact with sick people during pregnancy. If family members or friends are known to have glandular fever, they should avoid it for their own protection during pregnancy and, above all, avoid mouth-to-mouth contact with potentially ill persons. Even weeks after the onset of symptoms, the saliva of the diseased is still infectious.

What are the consequences of glandular fever in pregnancy?

Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, unlike other infectious diseases such as rubella or toxoplasmosis, does not have a negative effect on the development of the child and the integrity of the pregnancy. The unborn child is not at risk of organ damage or malformation. The risk of miscarriage is also not increased by Pfeiffer’s glandular fever.

The disease usually heals without consequences, especially in pregnant women with an intact immune system. In very rare cases, however, complications can occur within the scope of the disease. These include a rupture of the spleen accompanied by life-threatening internal bleeding, kidney failure and heart muscle inflammation.

Therefore, physical rest is absolutely necessary during the entire duration of the disease, especially during pregnancy. Other serious complications include damage to the central nervous system and the haematopoietic system.These complications are, as mentioned, very rare, but if they occur, they can threaten the pregnancy and the unborn child. However, it must be emphasized that, as a rule, the occurrence of such consequences is not to be expected.

The EBV virus is also associated with the occurrence of some cancers. These can occur years and decades after infection with the virus and therefore do not occur directly during pregnancy. However, the probability of these consequences is also to be classified as rather low.

Pfeiffer’s glandular fever therefore generally does not have any specific consequences for pregnancy. It naturally represents an increased burden for the mother, since the illness is accompanied by a reduced general well-being as well as a pronounced feeling of illness and exhaustion. In some cases, an inpatient stay at the clinic may also be necessary to ensure the integrity of the mother and child. In particular, the intravenous administration of fluids as well as the control of fever by antipyretic medication and physical rest during the inpatient stay are priority therapeutic measures.