Pregnancy-related dengue fever can have serious hazards for both the mother and the unborn child, including low birth weights. Pregnant women who contract dengue are known to have a higher risk of hemorrhaging, which affects both the mother and the unborn child. It could result in an abortion if contracted early in the pregnancy. It is widely accepted that dengue fever does not always indicate that a pregnancy should be terminated, even though there is little information available regarding the impact of the illness on embryos when the mother has it during the first trimester.
A critical period of concern is close to term, during the perinatal time when there is a risk of vertical transmission of the virus from mother to newborn. This likelihood of transmission varies significantly, with estimates ranging from 1.6% to 46.4%. Despite the insufficient comprehensive data on the health outcomes of pregnancies complicated by dengue fever, certain complications are notably associated with such cases. Among these, preterm birth and low birth weight are significant concerns, with reported incidence rates ranging from 13% to 55%.
