Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Charlie Kirk shot dead
  • Nepal protests
  • Russia-Poland tension
  • Israeli strikes in Qatar
  • Larry Ellison
  • Apple event
  • Sunjay Kapur inheritance row
fp-logo
Flu can be life-threatening for pregnant women and result in preterm delivery or miscarriage, study reveals
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Health
  • Flu can be life-threatening for pregnant women and result in preterm delivery or miscarriage, study reveals

Flu can be life-threatening for pregnant women and result in preterm delivery or miscarriage, study reveals

Myupchar • September 22, 2020, 18:27:18 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

In a recent study, published in the journal PNAS on 21st September 2020, it was revealed how influenza A virus infection in pregnant women can cause severe harm to both mothers and the unborn.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
Flu can be life-threatening for pregnant women and result in preterm delivery or miscarriage, study reveals

Influenza, popularly known as the flu, is one of the most common respiratory infections experienced by people throughout the world, infecting 3 to 5 million people every year. In most cases, it gets cured on its own but sometimes it can turn into a severe life-threatening condition. In a recent study, published in the journal PNAS on 21st September 2020, it was revealed how influenza A virus infection in pregnant women can cause severe harm to both mothers and the unborn. Flu in pregnant women The Influenza virus does not transmit vertically from the mother to the baby via the placenta. However, it has been observed that the severe effects of influenza on pregnant women can harm the fetus. Previous studies have shown that pregnant women with influenza are at a higher risk of developing pneumonia and requiring hospitalisation. Also, these pregnant women bear a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm births or restricted growth of the fetus. So far, it was assumed that the flu may be a serious health problem for pregnant women because their immunity gets suppressed during the gestation period, making it hard for them to fight the infection. However, new research by the scientists of the University of Missouri, Columbia, states that the Influenza A virus has a different effect on pregnant and non-pregnant bodies, which makes it a serious health hazard during pregnancy. Influenza A in pregnant mice To prove their theory, scientists performed the experiment on two groups of mice; pregnant mice at embryonic day 12 (equivalent to the second trimester of pregnancy in humans) and non-pregnant female mice. There were 6 to 8 mice in both groups. Both these groups were infected with a moderately pathogenic strain of Influenza A virus. The non-pregnant mice showed normal signs of the seasonal flu and their infection was limited to the lungs. However, in pregnant mice, there was an increased overall inflammation in the body, with increased neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets in the blood. Results of the study The scientists found that Influenza A virus infection during pregnancy incites inflammation in the vasculature (blood vessels) of the body, which hampers blood circulation. After this inflammatory response in the body, the immune system sends innate immune cells and white blood cells to cope with the inflammation. There is also an excess production of inflammatory cytokines (such as Interleukin-1 beta and TNF alpha), inflammatory adhesion molecules and oxidative stress mediators in the blood vessels in response to Influenza A virus. This damage results in inflammation in the aorta, which is the main artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The scientists believe that more studies are needed to establish the effect of Influenza A virus in pregnant women in order to prevent cardiovascular damage in them. For more information, read our article on Flu (Influenza). Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Tags
NewsTracker Reuters flu pregnant women PNAS Mothers myupchar Influenza A Unborn
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

The new human organ scientists discovered in 2020 can help fight cancer of head and neck: Research

The new human organ scientists discovered in 2020 can help fight cancer of head and neck: Research

Dutch scientists discovered a new organ in the human throat, the tubarial salivary glands, during prostate cancer imaging. This finding could revolutionize head and neck cancer care by refining radiation therapy, reducing side effects, and enhancing patient quality of life.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

Charlie Kirk, shot dead in Utah, once said gun deaths are 'worth it' to save Second Amendment

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

From governance to tourism, how Gen-Z protests have damaged Nepal

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Did Russia deliberately send drones into Poland’s airspace?

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages: Qatar PM after Doha strike

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV