How sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can affect your baby

Dr Edmond Barasa, a gynaecologist/obstetrician, explains sexually transmitted infections and how they may affect your baby.

There are a many sexually transmitted infections (‘STIs’). Some are life threatening such as the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. STIs can be passed on from the mother to the child either across the placenta during pregnancy, or during delivery as the baby makes its way through the vagina.

When a pregnant woman attends the antenatal clinic, she is screened for any STIs that may harm the baby. Blood samples are taken for HIV and syphilis tests.

A mother may contract STIs during pregnancy or long before she conceives. Whatever the case, all STIs must be treated to reduce the risk of infecting the child. HIV has no cure but there are ways available to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to the baby.

Bacterial Vaginosis

In bacterial vaginosis, a woman gets a vaginal discharge caused by a number of micro-organisms. The discharge in this case is intense, grey or white in colour and has a fishy smelling. It may be sticky or of normal consistency.

If this disease is not treated it can cause extremely high temperatures in the infant after birth. High temperatures are fatal. Infections of the amniotic fluid and preterm labour are common occurrences in bacterial vaginosis.

Chlamydia

Untreated chlamydia in women may complicate matters as it blocks the fallopian (uterine) tubes causing ectopic pregnancies or infertility. Ectopic pregnancies may result especially in partially treated disease depending on how the tubes get affected. The bacterium involved is a major cause of infection after birth. It can also lead to an abortion or miscarriage.

This infection is associated with low-birth weight of the infant and premature rupture of the membranes thereby increasing the risk of infection and abortive pregnancies.

When the baby is born to a mother who has chlamydia, eye infections and chlamydial pneumonia are common.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea mostly affects the urethra and the cervix. It is one of the major causes of pelvic inflammatory disease causing blockage of the fallopian tubes and resulting in ectopic pregnancies or infertility. If not treated the infection causes premature rupture of the membranes, infection of the amniotic fluid and preterm delivery. A newborn baby gets severe eye infections which can lead to blindness.

Syphilis

Women attending antenatal clinic are screened for syphilis and if infected medication is started immediately. Syphilis causes prematurity and death in the newborn. If born of a syphilis-infected mother, a baby may have congenital syphilis (syphilis infection acquired while in the womb).

The baby may have lesions on the palms, soles and buttocks. These lesions burst and leave a dull, red raised area. Ulcers develop on the mouth and lips. If ulcers develop on the larynx (voice box) the baby’s cry may be thin or soundless.

Infection and swelling of the long bones cause pain and the baby behaves as if he has a fracture. Later on, there may be impaired vision or blindness, meningitis-causing convulsions and mental disabilities.

In a baby with congenital syphilis, the symptoms may be evident within the first year or anytime within the next 30 years.

Genital Herpes

This is a viral STI that is transmitted to the fetus during delivery through the birth canal or across the placenta during pregnancy. There is a risk of spontaneous abortion; and prematurity and infection in the newborn. The newborn develops a rash with blisters and small fluid-filled elevations on the skin usually in the first week. In eighty per cent of the cases, the baby is likely to die. Other organs like the brain and the liver may get damaged.

If the baby survives and is not treated, he develops blindness and developmental delay is evident. If you have genital herpes, a Caesarian section may save the child.

Cytomegallo virus

This virus is found in the human salivary gland. It produces serious illness in the newborn. If the mother gets the infection within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, there will be a spontaneous abortion of the fetus, intra-uterine growth, retardation of the uterus, or premature birth of the infant. The fetus may suffer an enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, developmental delay, blindness, epilepsy and hearing loss, in addition to long-term neurological (nervous system) defects.

END: PG2/44