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.
