Pregnant woman Image Source: Rolling Stone Angela Onwuzoo As cholera continues to spread, causing hospitalisation and deaths, maternal health experts have raised concerns that the infection predisposes pregnant women to the risk of stillbirth and miscarriage. The gynaecologists stated that cholera is more severe in pregnant women and could lead to catastrophic pregnancy outcomes and increase Nigeria’s already high maternal mortality rate if urgent steps are not taken to contain it. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says cholera infections during pregnancy are associated with high rates of fetal death, especially when women are severely dehydrated.
NCDC The physicians said cholera could lead to sudden death in pregnant women who are malnourished and are battling with early pregnancy symptoms such as vomiting due to severe levels of dehydration. Apart from the mothers, the maternal health specialists, who spoke exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise, said unborn babies also face consequences of cholera if their mothers become infected with the acute diarrhoeal infection. Baby in womb The experts’ concerns follow the recent outbreak of cholera in the country, which has affected several states, including Lagos.
Nigeria is experiencing a significant cholera outbreak, with a total of 2,102 suspected cases and 63 deaths recorded across 33 states and 122 local government areas in the country. The outbreak has notably affected Lagos, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauch.
