Infections during Pregnancy; Accessibility, Consequences, Challenges and Appropriate Management Approach in Albania

Abstract

Infections during pregnancy represent a unique medical challenge in diagnosis as there is the management of the infected woman and the developing fetus to consider. Perinatal counselling requires a discussion of risks of transmission, interventions to possibly prevent transmission in-utero or postnatally, diagnosis of infection in the fetus or newborn and finally, postnatal management of the infant.

Many congenital infections are asymptomatic at birth, but some can be associated with significant long term sequelae. Some congenital infections can be successfully prevented provided adequate strategies are implemented in a timely manner. The anxiety for parents cannot be underestimated. Informed counselling aims to assist parents with the process.

In conclusion, prevention, early diagnosis and proper management of medical problems like infections during pregnancy often involves a broad spectrum of medical specialists, and a superior of such care can only be done only in harmonised medical interdisciplinary service under a current clinical protocols supported by functional Albanian National Health Service.

Keywords: infections, pregnancy, mother, fetus, diagnosis, consequences