H1N1 Flu- A critical risk during pregnancy
Published: March 19, 2020
A recent study has revealed that pregnant women who are afflicted with H1N1 flu are 13 times more likely to fall critically ill and get admitted to Intensive Care Unit. As per www.alertnet.org, the study which was published in the British Medical Journal also brought to light that about 11 percent carrying mothers and 12 percent babies who had pandemic H1N1 flu, generally called Swine Flu, succumbed to the disease while they were in ICU. “Although a mortality of 11 percent seems low when compared to usual outcomes of respiratory failure in intensive care … a maternal mortality of 11 percent is high when compared with any other obstetric condition,” explained Ian Seppelt, a researcher and Intensive Care Influenza Investigator, in his study.
The study was conducted from June 1 to August 31, 2020 where around 209 women aged 15 to 44, carrying Swine Flu were admitted to ICU. It was found that about sixty four women were either pregnant or had delivered a baby recently. According to www.reuters.com, about 69 percent of pregnant women required the support of ventilators for breathing while 14 percent women were even more critical and found it hard to take oxygen to their heart and lungs.
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