VARICELLA-ZOSTER INFECTION AT BIRTH

At birth maternal infection with the Varizella-Zoster-Virus (VZV) is v ery rare but poses a truly lifethreatening risk to the newborn. The ne onatal mortality rate is up to 20-30%, if the maternal VZV-infection o ccurs between day 4 ante partum and day 2 post partum. The mortality c an be decreased, if labour is successfully delayed by tocolytic agents until VZV-antibodies produced by maternal immune response have passed the placental barrier. There are indications that the mortality may a lso be lowered by passive immunisation of the newborn, but further res earch is needed. We recommend strongly to check VZV-IgG-antibodies-tit res promptly, if VZV-infection is suspected. Labour then should be del ayed by tocolytic agents as described in 2 case reports to allow mater nal IgG-antibodies to cross the placental barrier to the foetus.