Introduction: Varicella (chickenpox) is a viral infectious disease. They are caused by varicella zoster virus, which can later reactivate and cause herpes zoster. The majority of the population has varicella in childhood, where the course of the disease is mostly mild and predictable. Newborns, adults, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of a more severe course of the disease and potential complications. After getting over varicella, humans have lifelong immunity. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma thesis is to study the primary infection with the varicella-zoster virus during pregnancy and to explore the incidence of infection during pregnancy, consequences and complications that may occur in pregnant woman, the foetus and the newborn in case of infection, as well as the treatment and prevention of infection. Methods: The thesis uses a descriptive method based on a review of English and Slovenian expert and scientific literature. We searched for literature using DiKUL web portal, in the CINAHL Ultimate and MEDLINE (PubMed) bibliographic databases, and the ScienceDirect and Google Scholar web search engines. Results: In countries located in the temperate zone, an infection with the varicella-zoster virus during pregnancy is very rare, as more than 90 % of the population recovers from varicella in their childhood. Due to environmental factors, an infection during pregnancy is more common in less developed, tropical and subtropical countries. The most common consequences of varicella during pregnancy are varicella pneumonia, congenital varicella syndrome and neonatal varicella. Varicella in pregnant women is most often treated using antiviral therapy with acyclovir. If a woman of childbearing age is not immune to varicella, the most important measure to prevent infection is vaccination. If a pregnant woman has been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus and has not developed antibodies, post-exposure prophylaxis with varicella-zoster immune globulin is administered. Discussion and conclusion: The essential part of the preventive strategy to prevent or reduce the incidence of varicella in pregnancy requires an organised approach to the management of susceptible and exposed pregnant women. The most important factor in reducing the incidence of varicella during pregnancy is education of non-immune women of childbearing age. Nurses play an important role in this regard, with health education work and encouraging vaccination.
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