Maternal Flu / Influenza will Cause Schizophrenia in Babies?

You know, it's not an easy task when one read up about something and then come across new information (albeit not proven yet) that will freak you out into the galaxy somewhere. This is especially when it relates to your 9 months of pregnancy.

Influenza is one of the more common illness that a mother-to-be may get; especially since the immunity is supposed to decrease in order to accommodate the ' foreign object' aka your new little one (although there are some GPs who claim that your immunity is supposed to increase instead). Many mothers I know got influenza when they were pregnant. I did too, and I mistakenly pushed myself to continue working - thinking that I could handle it as before. But it was not to be as the influenza disturbed my balance in my ears and soon I found myself almost succumbing to fainting spells. Obviously, I was soon sent to my one of the many bedrests (I still hate them) then. 

But what happens when the common flu or influenza actually affects more than  that period of time?



Now what exactly is Influenza / Flu?

Influenza is an infection of the respiratory (breathing) tract. It is often called the flu. The symptoms of influenza are fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, coughing, congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Influenza sometimes causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Do Influenza/ Flu cause birth defects?
Currently, no - not at the moment. However, it has been noted that when a mother has flu; the following changes will definitely take place in her body due to hormonal changes:

• increased heart rate
• stroke volume
• oxygen consumption
• decreased lung capacity

However, it was noted that during the 1957 Asian Flu Pandemic, there were several reports of women suffering from spontaneous pregnancy loss, fetal death, birth defects and preterm delivery. However, one must keep in mind that the advances in the medical field are not as of those today.  

Do Influenza/ Flu affect the Child when he/she is Growing Up?
This question was the most interesting of all. It is actually the focus of my reading. What happened is that studies suggest that this condition can have a long-lasting effect on the child's brain! Furthermore, depending on the time the mother gets the flu - it may have different effects on the child.

For example, having the flu around the sixth month of pregnancy may affect the wiring of the brain (in the cognitive and emotional areas) and this may lead to schizophrenia. Other studies concluded that the condition may also cause childhood leukemia and even Parkinson disease! Some studies suggest that having a flu in the second trimester may increase the chance of the child being dyslexic because of similar problems faced during the wiring of the brain. Other studies also believe that flu in the early pregnancy can cause neural tube defects - even if the mother did not run a fever. Cleft lips and congenital heart defects have also have made their appearances in some of the babies.

Also, a large study found that during the flu season, pregnant women in the third trimester were almost five times as likely to be admitted to the hospital during the flu season for heart or lung problems as women who were one to six months pregnant. What's worse is that the risk increased the farther along the women were in their pregnancies as this may lead to distress in the fetus and may have to opt for an emergency cesarean.

Currently, the data is still highly speculative but  as the neurons in the wiring of the fetus' brain is continuously forming throughout the pregnancy - it can be a likely possibility. Till then, when more conclusive studies can be formed - mothers-to-be have to be extra careful in looking after themselves.

Is There any Way to Combat this?
From what I read - yes. Women who had consumed folic acid during early pregnancy and received anti-fever medications for treatment can greatly decrease the effects on the child. The latter, especially, can lead to a shorter fever duration - which can have adverse effects on the fetus when prolonged.

When I did the reading and summary, only then it hit me if I had stubbornly persisted not to rest (all thanks to my workaholic nature again) at the point of time; I would have actually placed my little one in great danger without realising. Now, whenever I feel the onset of flu is arriving; I would immediately rush to the GP near my house.

In fact, I rushed to find him so often he has begun to raise an eyebrow whenever he sees me entering his office *sweatdrop*.