Friday, June 15, 2012

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influenza during pregnancy



How dangerous is influenza?
What are the risks of flu for pregnant women and the fetus at risk?
Can you get vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy?
These are questions that mothers ask themselves when a flu epidemic. What do they know?

Influenza: A pregnancy is a risk

every year the government insists on the importance of vaccination for people over 65 and people with a chronic illness. But there are other risk groups such as children and pregnant women, although the risk for them something smaller.

One should also not forget that the symptoms of flu that seem harmless, can be quite powerful and make that nothing else can do it for a few days "in bed" to continue.

This does not apply to people who rely on an antiviral agent within the 14 hours following the outbreak of the first flu symptoms.

What are the risks for pregnant women and fetuses?
Vaccination against influenza is recommended for women who are at increased risk of complications. The effects of the flu for the expectant mother and the unborn child are difficult to study.

According to a study raises flu at the end of pregnancy the risk of hospitalization for cardioid-respiratory complications by a factor of 4.7.

A number of other studies show that fetuses also increase the risk of infections, especially if there is heart disease. Congenital anomalies or an influence on birth weight were not associated with an influenza infection.

Today we know is that an infection can be fatal for a newborn and that the risk of hospitalization due to influenza two times greater in children from zero to six months, compared with children who are older.

Influenza vaccine, a risk for pregnant women?

As regards vaccination, a study from 2012 emphasizes the safety and usefulness to both the pregnant woman and the fetus or newborn.

It is also a fact that pregnant women often have contact with young children. The flu hits every year 10% of the population in general, but in children it can be up to 30%.

People often forget that children are a preferred target of the flu virus and that they contribute greatly to the spread of the virus. It is estimated that the number of pregnant women each year, hit by the flu virus at 5 to 22%.
The decision pregnant women benefit from a flu vaccine, especially when they come into frequent contact with children.
Pregnant women who are not vaccinated may increase the risk of infection with the influenza virus by reducing the children of the family to get vaccinated.

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