Infections happen when the body is invaded by microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. In pregnancy, infections are especially of concern because they may affect both the mother and the fetus.
Causes - Vaginal Discharge
A vaginal discharge could be normal, but it can also be caused by a vaginal infection.
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HPV During Pregnancy
HPV in pregnancy has not been connected with pregnancy complications such as miscarriage or premature labor.
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Listeria or Listeriosis and Pregnancy
What is listeria?
Listeria is a bacterium (Listeria monocytogenes) that is common in the environment. It is carried by many farm animals and pets. You can be infected by listeria if you eat contaminated food. Some foods are riskier than others – the riskiest are those eaten raw or inadequately cooked. ... read more »
Coronavirus COVID-19 Pregnancy and Fertility
All you need to know about COVID-19 and pregnancy
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Pyelonephritis During Pregnancy
is an infection of the uppermost section of the urinary tract. The condition is more common in women with asymptomatic urinary tract or bladder infection.
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Epstein-Barr Virus and Pregnancy
The Epstein-Barr virus (EPV) is a common viral infection. It is
estimated that 95% of people between the ages of 35 and 40 have come in contact with
the virus at least once.
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Syphilis During Pregnancy
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection. Due to the increased risk of pregnancy complications, women are typically screened for syphilis during prenatal testing.
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QA Questions and Answers about Zika Virus and Pregnancy
We expect that the course of Zika virus disease is similar to that in the general population. No evidence exists to suggest that pregnant women are more susceptible or experience more severe disease during pregnancy. It is not known if pregnant women are more susceptible to Guillain-Barré syndrome.
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Lyme Disease and Pregnancy
If you are pregnant and get bitten by a tick, your anxiety may reach heightened proportions. What do you do if you are bitten by a tick and you're pregnant? Will it affect your unborn baby? Will you get Lyme disease? And what should you do right now?
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Can I Pass Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to my Unborn Baby?
I contracted genital warts from my previous boyfriend and now I want a baby. Should we start using condoms every time we have sex and try to adopt?
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Gonorrhea During Pregnancy
Gonorrhea is a serious bacterial infection that may be passed from one partner to another during sexual contact. Sexual contact includes oral, anal and genital sex.
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Pink Eye During Pregnancy
While pink eye can be alarming because it may make the eyes extremely red and can spread rapidly, it's fairly common. Here's what to do when you are pregnant and come down with the dreaded pink eye!
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Are Pregnant Women at Higher Risk of Contracting COVID-19?
There is very little information regarding pregnancy outcomes and Coronavirus so far. If you’re pregnant, you have many questions about how to stay safe and keep your baby protected. Here are the answers to the common question surrounding pregnancy and the Coronavirus:
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During COVID-19: Is Home Birth Better than Hospital Birth?
Even now: Home birth is not safer than hospital birth.
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Sexually Transmitted Infections and Diseases
An STD occurs when an infection is transmitted during sex, although it may not be exclusively during sex since some infections are transmitted through touching or kissing.
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What is COVID-19 (2019-Novel Coronavirus)?
This is the most recent coronavirus which was reported on January 9, 2020 by the World Health Organization and identified by Chinese authorities. The virus is associated with an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
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How To Protect Yourself from COVID-19
Coronavirus often affects the respiratory tract leading to lung infection (pneumonia). It can be spread from person-to-person, mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
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Is Shingles Infection Contagious?
Can I get infected with shingles from my partner?
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Coronavirus: Separating Fact from Fiction
It’s difficult to keep up with the ever-changing news cycle on the Coronavirus outbreak. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what is the best course of action to take to protect yourself, your family and your community. Here are some of the top questions concerning the Coronavirus:
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Group B Strep - GBS and Pregnancy
Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that can be found in the bowels, vagina, bladder, or throat, and commonly without any symptoms. About one in four pregnant women normally carry Group B Strep (GBS) in their vaginas.
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Seasonal Influenza (Flu) in Children
Every Fall, doctors suggest children and at-risk adults receive a seasonal flu vaccination. The vaccination can prevent the flu or curb the intensity of a flu infection.
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Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever generally starts out with a low-grade fever and swollen glands (in the neck.) The signature rash generally looks like a sunburn, at first, but soon red bumps appear. The rash may spread across the chest, back, face and trunk.
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Ringworm During Pregnancy
Ringworm infections can occur during pregnancy and may appear to look like large pimples on the skin. Skin may appear red and flaky, and be extremely itchy.
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Childhood Infection: Rotavirus
Rotavirus is a common childhood infection that nearly all children suffer from before the age of 5.
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Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy
Some pregnancy hormones affect the bladder and attached organs, and this can increase the risk of bacteria ascending into the bladder and creating a urinary tract infection (UTI).
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Herpes on the Lip
Is a herpes lesion on my lip a problem?
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Herpes Prevention During Childbirth
Is there a way to prevent the spread of herpes from mother to child during pregnancy?
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Toxoplasmosis Infection by Trimesters
During which trimester is infection worse?
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Chlamydia Symptoms
What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?
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Chicken Pox Exposure and Pregnancy
I had chicken pox, and now I am pregnant
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Hepatitis B and Pregnancy
Infected pregnant women can transmit the hepatitis B virus to the fetus during pregnancy and at delivery. The later in pregnancy a mother contracts the virus, the greater the chance for infection in her baby.
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Recommended Screening Tests for STDs
Intrauterine or perinatally transmitted STDs can have fatal or severely debilitating effects on a fetus. Here are the CDC (Centers for Diseases Control) recommendations for screening of pregnant women
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Lyme Disease and Children
Lyme disease is caused by the black-legged tick. Ticks are more predominant in spring, summer and fall months, but children can contract the disease any time of year.
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Yeast Infections and Pregnancy
Yeast infections are more common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, specifically increased estrogen which sparks glycogen production.
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Gardnerella Vaginalis BV During Pregnancy
Gardnerella Vaginalis (also sometimes called BV) is an infection of the female genital tract by bacteria of the Gardnerella vaginalis strain, often in combination with various anaerobic bacteria.
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection
CMV stands for Cytomegalovirus, which is a DNA herpesvirus that infects up to 85% of all people in the United States at some point in their lives.
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Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the name of a condition in women where the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria.
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Trichomoniasis During Pregnancy
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease. When a pregnant woman is infected with trich, she may be at increased risk of problems during pregnancy such as early delivery.
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HPV Human Papilloma Virus Infection
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it.
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Chlamydia During Pregnancy
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection. The risk of passing chlamydia to an infant when the infant comes in contact with the birth canal is about 20- to 40-percent.
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Zika Virus
Being infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects. If you are traveling, please take precautions.
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Hepatitis A and Pregnancy
Hepatitis A (HAV) is a viral infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Other viral liver infections are caused by hepatits B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses. There is an increased risk of premature delivery if you become infected with HBV during pregnancy.
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Alleviating Cold and Flu Symptoms in Pregnancy
Cough, cold and flu symptoms are common in pregnancy. Can you take cold medicine to help alleviate symptoms or should you just tough it out? Which medications should you avoid?
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Campylobacter Infection During Pregnancy
Campylobacter bacteria infections during pregnancy, infections with an organism called campylobacter jejuni, are the number one cause of foodborne gastroenteritis, aka food poisoning in the United States and other developed countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) ... read more »
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection and Pregnancy
RSV infects the breathing passages and lungs in small children and infants. Since infants and small children have not yet built up enough immunity the condition may worsen and lead to other illnesses.
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Reye's Syndrome
Reye's Syndrome is not an infection; rather, it is an illness that affects some children after a viral infection. Clinical studies have linked Reye's Syndrome with aspirin.
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Ciguatera Fish Poisoning and Pregnancy
Ciguatera fish poisoning is among the most common reasons for fish poisoning around the world but how could it affect your pregnancy?
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Norovirus and pregnancy
What is Norovirus?
In the United States, Norovirus is the most frequently reported cause of foodborne related outbreaks.
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus. You can get norovirus from: ... read more »
Salmonella Infection During Pregnancy
Recently, Salmonella was found in a common cereal. There’s a good chance someone you know personally has had salmonella. I know two people who got salmonella in the same house at the same time once.
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What Is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is an infection that is caused by contact with a microscopic parasitic organism called Toxoplasma gondii. When contracted by a pregnant woman, it can pose a serious risk to her baby.
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