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For pregnant women with flu, the earlier the better for antiviral treatment

Prompt use of medication beneficial, especially in cases of severe illness, study suggests

Date:
February 4, 2016
Source:
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Summary:
Pregnant women are at higher risk for serious illness and complications, including death, from influenza. For expectant mothers hospitalized with flu, early treatment with the influenza antiviral drug oseltamivir may shorten their time in the hospital, especially in severe cases, suggests a new study. The findings also underscore the importance of flu vaccination for this risk group.
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Pregnant women are at higher risk for serious illness and complications, including death, from influenza. For expectant mothers hospitalized with flu, early treatment with the influenza antiviral drug oseltamivir may shorten their time in the hospital, especially in severe cases, suggests a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and available online. The findings also underscore the importance of flu vaccination for this risk group.

"Treating pregnant women who have influenza with antiviral drugs can have substantial benefit in terms of reducing length of stay in the hospital," said Sandra S. Chaves, MD, MSc, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and senior author of the study. CDC recommends treatment of suspected cases of flu among pregnant women with antiviral drugs as soon as possible, without waiting for test results to confirm influenza. "The earlier you treat, the better chances you have to modify the course of the illness."

Past studies have suggested that flu antiviral therapy is safe and beneficial for pregnant women. The current study, based on data from a nationwide flu surveillance network including 14 states, focused on pregnant women hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed flu over four recent flu seasons, from 2010 to 2014. During the study period, 865 pregnant women were hospitalized with flu. Sixty-three of these patients, or about 7 percent, had severe illness.

After adjusting for underlying medical conditions, vaccination status, and pregnancy trimester, the researchers found that early treatment with the antiviral drug oseltamivir was associated with a shorter hospital stay. Among pregnant women with severe flu illness who were treated early -- within two days of the start of symptoms -- the median length of stay was about five days shorter compared to hospitalized pregnant women with severe flu illness who were treated later (2.2 days vs. 7.8 days). Pregnant women hospitalized with less severe illness who were treated early also had a shorter hospital stay than those treated later, but the difference was not as great.

In the study, pregnant women hospitalized with severe flu illness were half as likely to have been vaccinated as women hospitalized with milder illness (14 percent vs. 26 percent). CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older, including pregnant women during any trimester of their pregnancy. Earlier studies have suggested that immunization during pregnancy may protect not only the mother from flu, but also her newborn baby during the first 6 months of life.

"All pregnant women should receive annual influenza vaccination to prevent influenza and associated complications for themselves and their infants," the study authors wrote.

A related editorial commentary by Alan T. N. Tita, MD, PhD, and William W. Andrews, PhD, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, accompanies the new study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

"Overall, considering the accumulating evidence of fetal benefit and safety, influenza vaccination of pregnant and postpartum women should be a public health priority in accordance with national recommendations," the commentary authors wrote. "Prompt initiation of antiviral therapy if infection occurs, preferably within two days of suspected or confirmed influenza infection, is encouraged."


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Materials provided by Infectious Diseases Society of America. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Ikwo Oboho, Carrie Reed, Paul Gargiullo, Michelle Leon, Deborah Aragon, James Meek, Evan J. Anderson, Patricia Ryan, Ruth Lynfield, Craig Morin, Marisa Bargsten, Shelley Zansky, Brian Fowler, Ann Thomas, Mary Lou Lindegren, William Schaffner, Ilene Risk, Lyn Finelli, Sandra S. Chaves. The benefit of early influenza antiviral treatment of pregnant women hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2016; jiw033 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw033

Cite This Page:

Infectious Diseases Society of America. "For pregnant women with flu, the earlier the better for antiviral treatment." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 February 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204042237.htm>.
Infectious Diseases Society of America. (2016, February 4). For pregnant women with flu, the earlier the better for antiviral treatment. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204042237.htm
Infectious Diseases Society of America. "For pregnant women with flu, the earlier the better for antiviral treatment." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160204042237.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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