Prenatal care is the best way to avoid some diseases that may happen during pregnancy. As these diseases may not present any signs or symptoms, it is important for the pregnant woman to prevent them by undergoing prenatal care. Some of these diseases are:
Neonatal Tetanus
Neonatal tetanus (seven-day illness) is an infection that happens through belly cord contamination and that may be avoided by the tetanus vaccine. The World Health Organization recommends the vaccine for all pregnant women, depending on the vaccine status in which she finds herself, that is, whether she has already taken any dose of the vaccine or not.
During prenatal care, the pregnant woman should be advised about this vaccine. Therefore, in addition, to protecting against this disease, it also protects the baby’s health. See the tetanus vaccine status for pregnant women in your country:
The Philippines
The tetanus vaccine is recommended during pregnancy and is made free for pregnant women.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a disease that is transmitted through sexual intercourse and is easily treated. But when it is not treated, it can severely affect the pregnant woman and the baby.
The World Health Organization recommends that all pregnant women take a test to detect syphilis at the first prenatal visit and in the last quarter of pregnancy. See the situation of the syphilis test in your country:
The Philippines
In some public hospitals, the syphilis test is free.
The medications for syphilis treatment are not free.
Toxoplasmosis
Also known as "cat disease", toxoplasmosis can be transmitted through contact with cat feces (soil, sand, gardens) or by eating contaminated raw food. If the woman is infected with this disease during pregnancy, she transmits the infection to the baby, which can cause brain problems, vision problems, and even premature delivery or fetal death.
Therefore, pregnant women should avoid eating raw foods in places where they have not been well sanitized. Thinking about raw foods reminds us of salads and fruits, but we cannot forget about raw or undercooked meats, which are also vehicles for this contamination.
Therefore, during the nine months of pregnancy, it is important to take extra care when eating outside the house, opting for cooked salads, peeled fruits, and well-cooked or well-done meats.
Aids (Sida)
Aids (SIDA) is a disease that attacks the body's defenses. When the disease is found at the beginning of pregnancy, it is easier to undergo treatment, and, therefore, there are great chances for the baby to be born without the virus that causes the disease (HIV). Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends that all pregnant women take the test to know if they have HIV during prenatal care.
See the situation of the HIV detection test in your country:
The Philippines:
The HIV virus detection test is part of prenatal care; however, the pregnant woman needs to pay for it.
The HIV virus carrier woman should not breastfeed, because the disease can contaminate her baby through breast milk. The guideline on how to feed the baby should be done by a health care professional.
- e-Capacitação
- >
- e-Basic Guide from pregnancy to 2 years old
- >
- The first three months of pregnancy
- >
- Prevention of diseases during pregnancy
- e-Capacitação
- >
- e-Facilitador em UBS e Maternidade
- >
- The pregnant woman: 1st trimester
- >
- Prevention of diseases during pregnancy
- e-Capacitação
- >
- e-Guide from pregnancy to 6 years old
- >
- The first three months of pregnancy
- >
- Prevention of diseases during pregnancy