Chickenpox, pregnancy and the newborn: a follow-up

doi:10.1136/dtb.2005.431294

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2005;43:94-96; doi:10.1136/dtb.2005.431294

Chickenpox, pregnancy and the newborn: a follow-up

In September 2005, we published an article on Chickenpox, pregnancyand the newborn.¹ One of the issues it considered was fetalvaricella syndrome, an uncommon but potentially fatal consequenceof in-utero chickenpox infection. We reported evidence suggestingthat contracting maternal chickenpox within the first 28 weeksof pregnancy can lead to fetal varicella syndrome. This suggestionwas questioned after publication since it was at odds with nationalguidance in the UK^2–5 and elsewhere,^6–9 which hasindicated that fetal varicella syndrome occurs only where maternalchickenpox develops before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Here we discussin more detail the basis for our conclusion and its implications.