Table of contents:
- What is the effect of TB on pregnant women and babies?
- Low birth weight risk (LBW)
- Increases the risk of fetal death
- TB drugs do not affect the fetus
- TB treatment in pregnant women
- Latent tuberculosis
- Active tuberculosis
- HIV and TB
- Types of TB drugs that pregnant women should avoid
Tuberculosis or TB belongs to a group of infectious diseases caused by a bacterial infection called mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although tuberculosis often attacks the lungs, these bacteria can attack other organs of the body. TB is a disease that is very dangerous and can be fatal for all people, including pregnant women. What is the effect of TB on pregnant women and how is it treated? Here's the explanation.
What is the effect of TB on pregnant women and babies?
Quoting from the official website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tuberculosis (TB) in pregnant women has a greater influence than other age groups. Treatment should be started when the pregnant woman has tested positive for TB.
Following are the effects of TB on pregnant women who need to be aware of:
Low birth weight risk (LBW)
Babies born to mothers who have TB are at risk of being born with low birth weight (LBW) than other babies whose mothers do not have TB. in very rare special conditions, TB in children can occur due to congenital nature of the mother.
Increases the risk of fetal death
In infants, pregnant women who have TB can increase the risk of miscarriage and fetal death. This condition can get worse when pregnant women experience changes in the immune system.
TB drugs do not affect the fetus
The Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC) explains on its official website that tuberculosis (TBC) drugs consumed by pregnant women can enter the baby's body through the placenta. However, it does not have any adverse or harmful effects on the fetus.
TB treatment in pregnant women
Maybe you are worried about TB treatment while you are pregnant for fear of harming the fetus in the womb.
Quoting from WebMD, some TB drugs in pregnant women have an influence on the growth of the baby, such as birth defects or other problems. However, your doctor will not prescribe these types of drugs if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
The TB medicine that is given depends on the type of tuberculosis you have, namely:
Latent tuberculosis
This is a condition when you have no symptoms of TB but tests show that the pregnant woman has the disease.
The doctor will give you the drug isoniazid which needs to be consumed every day for 9 months of pregnancy. At the same time, you need to take vitamin B6 supplements to prevent the risk of heart disease and pregnancy side effects such as morning sickness.
Active tuberculosis
When a pregnant woman has tuberculosis, the doctor will prescribe three drugs, namely isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol. You will need to take all three drugs every day for two months.
After that for the rest of the pregnancy, you take isoniazid and rifampin every day or twice a week.
HIV and TB
If you have HIV and TB at the same time while pregnant, your doctor will give you the same medicine.
Consult the health condition of you and the fetus in detail with the doctor so that he can understand and provide the safest medicine for pregnant women and the fetus in the womb.
Types of TB drugs that pregnant women should avoid
Antibiotics are usually given as drugs to treat tuberculosis, but there are several types of drugs that should not be given to pregnant women because they have an effect on the health of the fetus, namely:
- Kanamycin
- Cycloserine
- Ethionamide
- Streptomycin
- Amikacin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Sparfloxacin
- Levofloxacin
- Capreomycin
The drugs above cannot be consumed by pregnant women because they can harm the fetus. Consultation and ask in detail the types of drugs given by the doctor.
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