Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus

Viruses are the most common congenital infections in humans and an important cause of foetal malformations, neonatal morbidity, and mortality. The effects of these infections, which are transmitted in utero (transplacentally), during childbirth or in the puerperium depend on the timing of the infect...

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Main Authors: Mariam Al Beloushi, Huda Saleh, Badreldeen Ahmed, Justin C. Konje
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1698
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author Mariam Al Beloushi
Huda Saleh
Badreldeen Ahmed
Justin C. Konje
author_facet Mariam Al Beloushi
Huda Saleh
Badreldeen Ahmed
Justin C. Konje
author_sort Mariam Al Beloushi
collection DOAJ
description Viruses are the most common congenital infections in humans and an important cause of foetal malformations, neonatal morbidity, and mortality. The effects of these infections, which are transmitted in utero (transplacentally), during childbirth or in the puerperium depend on the timing of the infections. These vary from miscarriages (usually with infections in very early pregnancy), congenital malformations (when the infections occur during organogenesis) and morbidity (with infections occurring late in pregnancy, during childbirth or after delivery). The most common of these viruses are cytomegalovirus, hepatitis, herpes simplex type-2, parvovirus B19, rubella, varicella zoster and zika viruses. There are currently very few efficacious antiviral agents licensed for use in pregnancy. For most of these infections, therefore, prevention is mainly by vaccination (where there is a vaccine). The administration of immunoglobulins to those exposed to the virus to offer passive immunity or appropriate measures to avoid being infected would be options to minimise the infections and their consequences. In this review, we discuss some of the congenital and perinatal infections and their consequences on both the mother and fetus and their management focusing mainly on prevention.
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spelling doaj-art-4e06a5f82b824acda0859cef86c0f7c02025-08-20T02:04:44ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-10-011611169810.3390/v16111698Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and FetusMariam Al Beloushi0Huda Saleh1Badreldeen Ahmed2Justin C. Konje3Women’s Wellness and Research Centre Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, QatarWomen’s Wellness and Research Centre Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, QatarDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, QatarFeto Maternal Centre, Al Markhiya Doha, Doha P.O. Box 34181, QatarViruses are the most common congenital infections in humans and an important cause of foetal malformations, neonatal morbidity, and mortality. The effects of these infections, which are transmitted in utero (transplacentally), during childbirth or in the puerperium depend on the timing of the infections. These vary from miscarriages (usually with infections in very early pregnancy), congenital malformations (when the infections occur during organogenesis) and morbidity (with infections occurring late in pregnancy, during childbirth or after delivery). The most common of these viruses are cytomegalovirus, hepatitis, herpes simplex type-2, parvovirus B19, rubella, varicella zoster and zika viruses. There are currently very few efficacious antiviral agents licensed for use in pregnancy. For most of these infections, therefore, prevention is mainly by vaccination (where there is a vaccine). The administration of immunoglobulins to those exposed to the virus to offer passive immunity or appropriate measures to avoid being infected would be options to minimise the infections and their consequences. In this review, we discuss some of the congenital and perinatal infections and their consequences on both the mother and fetus and their management focusing mainly on prevention.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1698congenital and perinatal infectionsvertical transmissioncytomegalovirushepatitis virusherpes simplex type-2 virusparvovirus B19 virus
spellingShingle Mariam Al Beloushi
Huda Saleh
Badreldeen Ahmed
Justin C. Konje
Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus
Viruses
congenital and perinatal infections
vertical transmission
cytomegalovirus
hepatitis virus
herpes simplex type-2 virus
parvovirus B19 virus
title Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus
title_full Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus
title_fullStr Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus
title_full_unstemmed Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus
title_short Congenital and Perinatal Viral Infections: Consequences for the Mother and Fetus
title_sort congenital and perinatal viral infections consequences for the mother and fetus
topic congenital and perinatal infections
vertical transmission
cytomegalovirus
hepatitis virus
herpes simplex type-2 virus
parvovirus B19 virus
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/11/1698
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AT hudasaleh congenitalandperinatalviralinfectionsconsequencesforthemotherandfetus
AT badreldeenahmed congenitalandperinatalviralinfectionsconsequencesforthemotherandfetus
AT justinckonje congenitalandperinatalviralinfectionsconsequencesforthemotherandfetus