Effect of Influenza During Pregnancy

INFLUENZA is a disease caused by a viral infection. Group of viruses that cause influenza are the types of RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae that often affects poultry and humans. Chills, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, cough, fatigue / weakness are common symptoms of influenza. Influenza is often considered a mild illness that resolves itself, so handling is often times overlooked. What if this happens influenza in pregnant women? whether the effects on pregnancy and the fetus?

Influenza vaccination during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of influenza and its complications during pregnancy until the baby is 6 months old. To assess the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of influenza vaccine this it is necessary to inspect / test the risk of influenza and its complications that occur during pregnancy and the baby will be born. Pregnant women have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality were higher during epidemics and pandemic influenza. Newborns of mothers who suffer from influenza during pregnancy, especially in severe influenza potentially adverse experience things such as premature births and low birth weights. 6 month old baby infected with influenza virus have hospital level of care and higher mortality than other babies who are not infected with influenza virus.

Decision influenza vaccine use during pregnancy should be strictly based on the ratio of benefits and disadvantages. To fully understand the benefits of this vaccine then we should know the complications associated with influenza virus infection is both the mother and the fetus. Also based on the results of randomized trials showed that influenza vaccination also protects infants from influenza attack up to the age of 6 months.

Based on the data of pandemic and seasonal influenza epidemics, pregnant women who catch influenza will be more likely to experience severe complications related to influenza are compared with the community at large. During pregnancy, physiological and immunological changes affect the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system and other organs so that a pregnant woman is at risk for complications of infection is greater. Pregnant woman's immune system will adapt to tolerate the presence of foreign genes fetus. How the adaptation mechanism is unknown, but it seems humoral immunity plays an important role in this regard. The immunologic adaptation increases the risk of complications associated with certain infections, including infections caused by influenza virus.

Latest facts about pandemic influenza A (H1N1)-pdm09 (2009 H1N1) provide evidence that pregnant women are at high risk for severe influenza complications. Data pregnant women compared with women of childbearing age who are not pregnant or the general population, showed that pregnant women are at risk of requiring inpatient care are higher even with intensive care and can result in mortality associated with the 2009 H1N1. The first month of data since the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 in the United States showed that pregnant women are at risk 4 times greater require hospital treatment.

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