Managing exposure to chickenpox during pregnancy

QUESTION: Every year, several on my pregnant patients ask me what to do about being exposed to a child who later comes down with chickenpox. What is your recommendation? ANSWER: Whether or not a mother had chickenpox in childhood often does not accurately determine her immunity. A rapid disease such as the latex agglutination test is useful. If test results are negative, or if testing is not feasible, varicella zoster immunoglobulin should be administered within 96 hours of exposure.