Varicella-Zoster Virus Prevalence among Pregnant Women: A European Epidemiological Review

Europe has faced a massive spread of the varicella-zoster virus through the years. Since the introduction of an effective vaccine, complications and severe forms of chickenpox have been restricted. Nevertheless, among the population, some categories need specific care, such as pregnant women, who present one of the most fragile conditions facing this infection, both for the mother and the fetus. In this review, we highlight how the varicella-zoster virus can be dangerous during pregnancy, underlining the problem of treatment and vaccination, and collect information about the European epidemiology among this particular category of women.

Automated summary

Europe has experienced a significant spread of the varicella-zoster virus, with complications and severe forms of chickenpox limited after the introduction of an effective vaccine. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to this infection, both for themselves and their fetus. This review focuses on the danger of the varicella-zoster virus during pregnancy, discussing treatment and vaccination issues, and collecting European epidemiological data on this specific population.