Why pregnant women are vulnerable to swine flu
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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned early on that pregnant women and young children may be especially susceptible to the H1N1 swine flu. This has been proven by the latest reports and moralities due to this flu epidemic.
The first confirmed death due to swine flu in Europe happened in Scotland last weekend and involved a 38-year old mother who just gave birth two weeks ago. The mother had some “underlying conditions” aside from the flu and delivered her baby prematurely. The baby was not infected with the H1N1 flu but also died shortly after, probably because it was very premature – eleven weeks early. The first case of swine flu fatality involving a pregnant woman was reported in Texas in May.
In the meantime:
- Argentina also reported its first H1N1 flu fatality – a 3-month old baby.
- Hong Kong closed all its kindergartens and primary schools due to increasing numbers of infected pupils.
- A Swiss daycare was also shutdown temporarily this week due to a positive H1N1 infection. It seems that the virus is getting closure to home.
Why pregnant women are at risk
According to MSNBC, the New Zealand Herald, and other sources:
- Pregnancy weakens the immune system. The immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy to accommodate a foreign body – the baby – in the womb. The likelihood of flu leading to pneumonia during pregnancy is high.
- A flu infection increases the risk for premature delivery which itself also can lead to other complications.
- Pregnant women suffering from asthma and other underlying conditions have even higher risk for complications.
- Young people (this includes children and women of reproductive age!) are more vulnerable to the H1N1 flu compared to older people because the H1N1 virus seems to be susceptible to flu antibodies that were probably produced during previous seasonal flu infections. In other words, older people have had more flu exposure and have had therefore built up more immune defenses against the current flu.
What the health authorities recommend
Pregnant women are therefore advised to especially take care and see their doctors immediately as soon as the flu symptoms start. Health authorities believe that the danger the virus poses to the fetus is much more than what anti-viral drugs do. The National Health Services (NHS) of the UK recommends the use of the inhalable antiviral drug Relenza, which can treat flu symptoms without reaching fetus.
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