The arrival of spring and summer warmth spurs many of us to spend more time outdoors and make travel plans, be it for a honeymoon, babymoon, or other seasonal getaway. Such was the case with Yesenia, who contacted MotherToBaby with questions about her upcoming summer vacation after finding out she is pregnant. Yesenia knew that with warmer temperatures comes an increased chance of mosquito bites and the infections they can carry. Like Yesenia, as you engage in more outdoor activity and plan getaway time, you may also have questions about exposure to these infections and their possible effects on a pregnancy. Understanding the potential risks of these illnesses and ways to protect yourself may help you make better-informed decisions before you decide to travel. This month, MotherToBaby turns to our partner the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) to help answer some of Yesenia’s questions:
What are vectors and vector-borne illnesses?
Vectors are living organisms, such as mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies or fleas, that are capable of spreading diseases to humans through bites and other forms of contact. Some common examples of these diseases, called vector-borne illnesses, include Chikungunya, dengue, malaria, Oropouche, and Zika virus. While disease-carrying insects can bite year-round, they are most active during warm weather. Many vector-borne illnesses have no cure, and treatment is usually limited to just managing the symptoms. This is why it’s important to protect yourself from bites!
How can vector-borne illnesses affect a pregnancy?
There can be serious health complications for the mother with some vector-borne infections during pregnancy, such as severe anemia, bleeding, and the need for hospitalization. If the mother develops serious complications, it increases the chance of problems for the baby, such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, or stillbirth. Some vector-borne illnesses may be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, which can lead to serious birth defects, such as microcephaly (a condition where the head is smaller than normal), other structural defects of the brain and eyes, and problems with long-term development and cognition (such as learning, understanding, and memory). For more information, see the MotherToBaby fact sheets on dengue, malaria, Oropouche, and Zika. The CDC also has information about chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases.
I am pregnant and I am planning to travel. How can I protect myself?
Here are some quick tips:
- If traveling, check CDC’s Travel Health Notices (THN) page before booking your trip. Avoid nonessential travel to high-risk areas starting with a Level 2 or higher advisory on the THN board.
- Use the Travelers’ Rapid Health Information Portal for destination-specific recommendations, such as which vaccines to get to prevent travel-related illness.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when spending time outdoors.
- Apply Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellents to exposed skin and clothing.
- Avoid outdoor activity during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Minimize exposure to open water sources, such as pools and lakes, which are breeding grounds for vectors.
- Keep windows and doors closed or use fans, mosquito nets, and mesh screens on windows and doors.
- Use the CDC’s Pregnant Travelers’ Health Guide for other general travel tips.
Which insect repellents are EPA-registered? And are they safe for me to use during pregnancy?
EPA-registered insect repellents include:
- N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET)
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus
- Para-menthane-diol
The EPA has studied these insect repellents for their effectiveness and safety profile. When used as directed on the product label, there is no evidence to suggest that these insect repellents increase the chance of birth defects or other pregnancy-related complications. For additional information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet on insect repellents.
Are there alternative insect repellents I can use?
Other essential-oil-based insect repellent products, including disposable wristbands and patches, are often advertised as safer alternatives to EPA-registered products, but there is no scientific evidence that they effectively protect you and your baby against disease-carrying insects. In addition, the essential oils in these products, such as peppermint, citronella, and lemongrass, are not regulated by the EPA as pesticides. It’s better to steer clear of these products in favor of EPA-registered insect repellents.
I’ve read about “parasite cleanses.” Do they work on vector-borne illnesses?
Parasites are living organisms that live on or inside a host and can cause harm by damaging tissues or triggering severe immune responses. Vector-borne illnesses are different from parasitic infections. But you may have seen social media posts touting home parasite cleanses that claim to “detox the body” and “kill off parasites” and wonder whether they could help prevent these diseases. The answer is a decided “no.”
These cleanses, which contain a blend of herbs, have no proven record of efficacy (doing what the label claims they do) or safety (that they will not cause unwanted symptoms), especially for use during pregnancy. Although many of these products claim to target a wide range of parasites, they can have dangerous and unknown side effects for you and your baby.
Parasitic and vector-borne illnesses are serious conditions requiring proper medical attention. They cannot be cured by these products. If you suspect that you have a parasitic infection—or any other serious illness—it’s important to speak with a doctor as soon as possible, especially during pregnancy.
The bottom line
So, what’s SMFM’s advice to Yesenia for her upcoming travel? The bottom line for protecting herself this spring and summer from vector-borne illnesses: stay away from higher-risk areas, stick with proven, safe repellents recommended by the EPA, and get in touch with her healthcare provider if she has any questions. Safe travels to Yesenia and to you!
More about Our Guest Co-Authors from SMFM
Naima T. Joseph, MD, is Vice Chair of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Committee on Infectious Diseases and Emerging Threats. Dr. Joseph is an MFM subspecialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Boston Medical Center and an Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Medicine.
Hazel Salvador is an intern at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at George Washington University. She is interested in health policy, maternal and child health, and epidemiology, and she hopes to pursue a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in the future. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and playing with her two parrots.
