Worthy prenatal ritual

Better cautious

Getting vaccinated for flu during pregnancy can ensure a surviving chance for newborns and their mothers, writes Dr Sonia Naik

Influenza, or flu, is often confused with the common cold and is therefore an underestimated disease in India. The country has been witnessing a steady rise in the number of influenza cases and is primarily driven by lack of awareness about the infectious nature of this disease and its potentially life-threatening complications. The problem is further augmented by overcrowding and poor sanitation.

Some of the symptoms associated with seasonal influenza include:

* Sudden onset of high fever
* Chills
* Cough (usually dry)
* Headaches
* Severe malaise (feeling unwell)
* Sore throat
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Muscle or body aches
* Feel very tired
* Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children)

For most people, symptoms last a few days. However, influenza can cause severe illness or death, especially in people at high risk, like pregnant women, children and elderly.

During pregnancy

Influenza in pregnant women can cause serious complications. During pregnancy, the mother’s body naturally lowers the immune system’s ability to protect and respond to illnesses so that it can welcome the growing baby. However, the weakening of the immune system makes the mother more vulnerable to flu and its health complications like pneumonia and ear infections, and leads to worsening of pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart and kidney problems.

Another reason why flu can be harmful during pregnancy is because the mother’s heart and lungs are already working hard to cope with the demands of the growing fetus, because of which the mother’s body is less capable of handling the stress of an influenza infection. A fever caused by flu infection during pregnancy can lead to birth defects in the fetus. It can also lead to complications with the pregnancy resulting in babies with a low birth-weight, premature delivery, emergency caesarean, still births and neonatal deaths.

Unfortunately, even though pregnant women are a high-risk group, they are not always advised to take the crucial flu vaccination. Sadly, the number of pregnant women dying of flu is on the rise and it is possible that simple immunisation could have prevented these deaths. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy ensures that the baby is born with some flu antibodies that help protect them from flu after birth for six months, while they are too young to get a flu shot. The influenza vaccine protects against three dominant influenza viruses in circulation across the world. All pregnant women should receive influenza vaccination from 26 weeks of pregnancy or later. The flu shot has been given to millions of pregnant women over many years and has not been reported to cause any potential harm to either mother or baby.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that pregnant women constitute the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination and has also declared that vaccination against influenza is the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. Recently, the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) Good Clinical Practice Guidelines also included the influenza vaccination in the recommended vaccination list for pregnant women in an effort to raise awareness and reduce the risk of influenza and its severe outcomes.

It is important to get the vaccine every year because the viruses can and do change. In other words, protection from the vaccine only lasts for about a year.

(The author is senior consultant, obstetrics and gynaecology, Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket, New Delhi)