page_title: Vertically transmitted infection
section_title: Treatment
hierarchical_section_title: Vertically transmitted infection / Treatment
caption_attribution_description: English: Micrograph showing the changes of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Pap test. Pap stain. The changes seen above may also been seen with the varicella zoster virus (VZV).
context_page_description: A vertically transmitted infection is an infection caused by pathogens that use mother-to-child transmission, that is, transmission directly from the mother to an embryo, fetus, or baby during pregnancy or childbirth. It can occur when the mother has a pre-existing disease or becomes infected during pregnancy. Nutritional deficiencies may exacerbate the risks of perinatal infections.
context_section_description: Some vertically transmitted infections, such as toxoplasmosis and syphilis, can be effectively treated with antibiotics if the mother is diagnosed early in her pregnancy. Many viral vertically transmitted infections have no effective treatment, but some, notably rubella and varicella-zoster, can be prevented by vaccinating the mother prior to pregnancy.
  Pregnant women living in malaria-endemic areas are candidates for malaria prophylaxis. It clinically improves the anemia and parasitemia of the pregnant women, and birthweight in their infants.
  If the mother has active herpes simplex (as may be suggested by a pap test), delivery by Caesarean section can prevent the newborn from contact, and consequent infection, with this virus.
  IgG₂ antibody may play crucial role in prevention of intrauterine infections and extensive research is going on for developing IgG₂-based therapies for treatment and vaccination.
caption: Micrograph of a pap test showing changes (upper right of image) associated with herpes simplex virus, a vertically transmitted infection
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