Lyme disease during pregnancy
Lyme disease always carries risks, including for pregnant women. However, it is not the case that a person who is pregnant is extra vulnerable after a tick bite.
Risk of Lyme disease for pregnant women
Lyme disease in pregnant women does not have a different course than in women who are not pregnant. Pregnant women who develop symptoms are diagnosed the same way as any other person.
Risk of Lyme disease for unborn child
Based on experiments performed on animals, it appears that there is a chance of disease transmission of the Borrelia bacteria during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman is infected with Lyme disease, there is a chance of transmission of the disease to the unborn child. Nevertheless, this is very rare. No clear link has yet been found between congenital abnormalities and Lyme disease during pregnancy.
Lyme disease treatment during pregnancy
Lyme disease, just like in women who are not pregnant, can be cured with antibiotics, provided that the diagnosis is made in time. It is important to react quickly after a tick bite, because the disease can have nasty consequences if it is not noticed. Think of complaints such as joint pain, problems with the nervous system and heart problems.