Post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies during pregnancy: safety and other concerns

Authors

  • Imran Ahmed Khan Department of Community Medicine, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, U.P., India
  • Mohammad Abu Bashar Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, U.P., India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0868-8335
  • Hari Shanker Joshi Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, U.P., India
  • Shailendra Upadhyay Department of Anaesthesiology, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, U.P., India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20221557

Keywords:

Rabies, Post-exposure prophylaxis, Vaccine, Immunoglobulin, Safety

Abstract

Rabies is a 100% fatal disease caused mainly due to animal bites but can easily be prevented through timely vaccination in case of its potential exposure. Pregnancy is a special condition in which vaccination against rabies in case of its potential exposure may pose questions on its safety owing to its effect on the growing foetus. Through, this short review, we aim to explain the safety of rabies vaccines during pregnancy and its potential harms. Currently available evidences show that both vaccines and immunoglobulins against rabies are completely safe in pregnancy and adverse effects profile similar to non-pregnant state. Further, both the vaccine and immunoglobulins against rabies have no adverse effect on the growing foetus and therefore may safely be given to pregnant women in case of potential exposure.

Author Biography

Mohammad Abu Bashar, Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, U.P., India

Assistant Professor of Community Medicine & Family Medicine at AIIMS, Gorakhpur( U.P.)

References

WHO Expert Consultation on rabies. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2005;931:1-88.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee opinion. Immunization during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2003;101:207-12.

Ingardia CJ, Kelley L, Steinfeld JD, Wax JR. HepatitisB vaccination in pregnancy: factors influencing efficacy. Obstet Gynecol. 1999;93:983-6.

Chaithongwongwatthana S, Yamasmit W, Limpongsanurak S, Lumbiganon P, Desimone JA, Baxter J, et al. Pneumococcal vaccination during pregnancy for preventing infant infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;D4903.

Manning SE, Rupprecht CE, Fishbein D, Hanlon CA, Lumlertdacha B, Guerra M, et al. Human rabies prevention- United States, 2008: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2008;57:1-28.

Chutivongse S, Wilde H. Postexposure rabies vaccinationduring pregnancy: experience with 21 patients. Vaccine. 1989;7:546-8.

Huang G, Cao Q, Liu X, Zhang D, Wen S. Epidemiological Study of Rabies in Guangzhou between 2004 and 2006. J Trop Med. 2007;7:492-4.

Chutivongse S, Wilde H, Benjavongkulchai M, Chomchey P, Punthawong S. Postexposure Rabies Vaccination During Pregnancy: Effect on 202 Women and Their Infants. Clin Infect Dis. 1995;20(4):818-20.

Sudarshan MK, Madhusudana SN, Mahendra BJ. Post-exposure prophylaxis with purified vero cell rabies vaccine during pregnancy--safety and immunogenicity. J Communicable Dis. 1999;31(4):229-36.

Fayaz A, Simani S, Fallahian V. Rabies antibody levels in pregnant women and their newborns after rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Iranian J Reprod Med. 2012;10(2):161-3.

Huang G, Liu H, Cao Q. Safety of post-exposure rabies prophylaxis during pregnancy: a follow-up study from Guangzhou, China. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2013;9(1):177-83.

Toovey S. Preventing rabies with the Verorab vaccine: 1985-2005 Twenty years of clinical experience. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2007;5(6):327-48.

Downloads

Published

2022-05-27

How to Cite

Khan, I. A., Bashar, M. A., Joshi, H. S., & Upadhyay, S. (2022). Post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies during pregnancy: safety and other concerns. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9(6), 2706–2708. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20221557

Issue

Section

Case Reports