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Suggest Treatment For Varicella Infection
Question: Hello doctor,
I am. 33 yrs and 6 weeks pregnant in my second pregnancy...doctor prescribed some routine tests like hiv hsv rubella etc...all the tests are ok but i vericella zoster virus igg is 150 and igm is 13.5( upper range was 12)..doc said it could be false positive and told me to do it again..again i got it 2.5 ( range is 0 to 0.90)...now doc is saying to go to skin speacalist...however i do not have any rash or fever... I hv read that varicella if again reactivates then it becomes shingles and it only reactivates in immunosuppresant people having hiv or cancer... my hiv test is negative... could this positive igm indicates any type of cancer??i had chickenpoz wen i was a kid so igg levels should be positive that i understand ...but why my igm levels are positive...i consulted another gynae she said we do not do varicella test in pregnancy its not even recommended...but did nt have the ans for postive igm...i am having sleeples nights thinking it can harm the fetus...plz help
I am. 33 yrs and 6 weeks pregnant in my second pregnancy...doctor prescribed some routine tests like hiv hsv rubella etc...all the tests are ok but i vericella zoster virus igg is 150 and igm is 13.5( upper range was 12)..doc said it could be false positive and told me to do it again..again i got it 2.5 ( range is 0 to 0.90)...now doc is saying to go to skin speacalist...however i do not have any rash or fever... I hv read that varicella if again reactivates then it becomes shingles and it only reactivates in immunosuppresant people having hiv or cancer... my hiv test is negative... could this positive igm indicates any type of cancer??i had chickenpoz wen i was a kid so igg levels should be positive that i understand ...but why my igm levels are positive...i consulted another gynae she said we do not do varicella test in pregnancy its not even recommended...but did nt have the ans for postive igm...i am having sleeples nights thinking it can harm the fetus...plz help
Brief Answer:
Not a cause for concern.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
In case of varicella infection in the last stage of the pregnancy is more important than that in the initial stages. In your case IgM is borderline raised although IgG is raised. Possibly you have suffered from a varicella zoster infection in the past. However, a follow up on this is required. Since you do not have any rash or fever at present and since there is no specific intervention advisable at present, I would insist you to wait and watch. All I would suggest for is a follow up test to be done may be a month later.
Varicella infection lies dormant in the nerve endings and resurfaces in case the immunity drops. The drop in immunity could be due to simple cough and cold or severe infections like HIV. However, you need not worry. There is no reason to grow anxious. In any case it is not important in the first trimester. It is only if you have genital lesions during delivery that you need to be concerned about.
Regards
Not a cause for concern.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
In case of varicella infection in the last stage of the pregnancy is more important than that in the initial stages. In your case IgM is borderline raised although IgG is raised. Possibly you have suffered from a varicella zoster infection in the past. However, a follow up on this is required. Since you do not have any rash or fever at present and since there is no specific intervention advisable at present, I would insist you to wait and watch. All I would suggest for is a follow up test to be done may be a month later.
Varicella infection lies dormant in the nerve endings and resurfaces in case the immunity drops. The drop in immunity could be due to simple cough and cold or severe infections like HIV. However, you need not worry. There is no reason to grow anxious. In any case it is not important in the first trimester. It is only if you have genital lesions during delivery that you need to be concerned about.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks a lot for the reply doc!! I feeling much relieved now...one thing which i wanted to ask is -- immunity also becomes low in pregnancy ...so is it possible that because of pregnancy igm levels can rise a bit??
Brief Answer:
Not a cause for concern
Detailed Answer:
I would not consider that the immunity dips during pregnancy. The IgM level is unlikely to rise due to pregnancy. It is borderline anyway. I would not really get concerned about it.
Regards
Not a cause for concern
Detailed Answer:
I would not consider that the immunity dips during pregnancy. The IgM level is unlikely to rise due to pregnancy. It is borderline anyway. I would not really get concerned about it.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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