Understanding the Contagiousness and Transmission of Chicken Pox

9. Congenital Varicella Syndrome

A woman who hasn't been vaccinated can get infected with the varicella zoster virus during her pregnancy. The first six months of pregnancy are associated with higher infections of the virus. If a woman is infected before the 28th week of pregnancy, the virus can pass through the placenta. This means it can affect the fetus. Infection can cause many congenital malformations and disorders. Some of them include brain damage, congenital or inflammatory disorders in the eye, neurological abnormalities, and bladder dysfunction.