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Infektionskrankheiten bei Kindern und Mutterschutz bei Lehrerinnen

Introduction: In their profession, female teachers take care of children and children get typical paediatric diseases. Occupational medical considerations suggest that pregnant teachers are at increased risk for paediatric diseases and that this can result in harmful effects on the mother or child. The current review discusses the relevant occupational medical literature and makes brief reference to the legal position.

Method: Selective literature search in Medline. The prevalences given are those established by the Robert Koch-Institute.

Results: An increased risk of harm for the mother and/or child has been demonstrated unambiguously for the following diseases: rubella (rubella-embryopathy), varicella (e.g. congenital varicella-syndrome), infectious erythema (e.g. hydrops fetalis) and measles (e.g. maternal pneumonia). The data for mumps are inconsistent. There are no risks known for pertussis or scarlet fever. The classical paediatric diseases, mumps, measles and rubella, have become very uncommon because of vaccination. The level of protection against varicella is high because nearly 100% of persons who have had the disease are seropositive. Infectious erythema is still a frequent disease with a relevant risk of infection against which there is no possibility of vaccination. To date there is still no study which demonstrates an increased risk of infection with the above-mentioned diseases for teachers.

Conclusion: Female teachers of child-bearing age should be examined by an occupational physician in advance of the pregnancy in order that they may be offered the available vaccinations against paediatric diseases. Any prohibition of employment following an occupational medical examination should be based on the real risk, which is evidently very small.