Thursday, July 30, 2009
Is there a possible link between Influenza-infected pregnant women and schizophrenia?
According to reports of the journal Biological Psychiatry, a new study showed that when mothers contract influenza during their pregnancy, it may increase the risk for schizophrenia in their offspring. However, it suggests that the observed association depends upon a pre-existing vulnerability in the foetus. Moreover, these findings are dependent upon the type of influenza. The association was only present after foetal exposure to influenza B, as opposed to influenza A. The new study indicated that a genetic or an additional environmental factor associated with psychosis is probably necessary for the foetal brain to be vulnerable to the effects of influenza, and a lesser likelihood in cognitive performance was only observed in influenza-exposed children who developed a psychotic disorder in adulthood.
From my own knowledge, pregnant women are considered at high risks for influenza infections based on previous pandemic events and from intense influenza seasons. Influenza is a serious disease also in pregnant women and young infants. However, it is not a very good idea for pregnant women to be immunised with influenza vaccinations yet, so prevention of influenza by other means is an important goal. The findings mentioned above in the article are extremely vital to everyone including those who are not pregnant, as it gives us all a clearer in-depth understanding of Influenza and how careful we should be in the phase of the current Influenza pandemic. After reading the article, I realise that Influenza not only has the ability to adversely affect everyone’s health, it can affect babies as well.
With this article, it is able to influence many people to take precautionary measures in maintaining their health, to make greater efforts by practising better prevention, early intervention and treatment strategies, such as taking steps to maintain good hygiene and, if clinically appropriate, administration of the influenza vaccination to reduce infection among women prior to pregnancy, so that there will not be increased risks of health problems, psychosis and other malformations in their offspring.
Claudia Wong (25)
3 Humility
(http://behindthemedicalheadlines.com/articles/womb-flu-link-to-schizophrenia) ¶ 6:56 PM
According to reports of the journal Biological Psychiatry, a new study showed that when mothers contract influenza during their pregnancy, it may increase the risk for schizophrenia in their offspring. However, it suggests that the observed association depends upon a pre-existing vulnerability in the foetus. Moreover, these findings are dependent upon the type of influenza. The association was only present after foetal exposure to influenza B, as opposed to influenza A. The new study indicated that a genetic or an additional environmental factor associated with psychosis is probably necessary for the foetal brain to be vulnerable to the effects of influenza, and a lesser likelihood in cognitive performance was only observed in influenza-exposed children who developed a psychotic disorder in adulthood.
From my own knowledge, pregnant women are considered at high risks for influenza infections based on previous pandemic events and from intense influenza seasons. Influenza is a serious disease also in pregnant women and young infants. However, it is not a very good idea for pregnant women to be immunised with influenza vaccinations yet, so prevention of influenza by other means is an important goal. The findings mentioned above in the article are extremely vital to everyone including those who are not pregnant, as it gives us all a clearer in-depth understanding of Influenza and how careful we should be in the phase of the current Influenza pandemic. After reading the article, I realise that Influenza not only has the ability to adversely affect everyone’s health, it can affect babies as well.
With this article, it is able to influence many people to take precautionary measures in maintaining their health, to make greater efforts by practising better prevention, early intervention and treatment strategies, such as taking steps to maintain good hygiene and, if clinically appropriate, administration of the influenza vaccination to reduce infection among women prior to pregnancy, so that there will not be increased risks of health problems, psychosis and other malformations in their offspring.
Claudia Wong (25)
3 Humility
(http://behindthemedicalheadlines.com/articles/womb-flu-link-to-schizophrenia) ¶ 6:56 PM
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