Jun 29, 2009 5:32 pm US/Pacific
H1N1 Flu Cluster: Bay Area Pregnant Women
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
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A doctor examines a pregnant patient.
AP
CBS 5 has learned that at least five pregnant women have been hospitalized in Bay Area intensive care units due to complications of the H1N1 swine flu.
Sources said two of the five women are no longer in ICU, but they remained hospitalized. All the fetuses appeared to be fine, the sources indicated.
This may be the first reported cluster of pregnant women infected with H1N1 in the country. One obstetrician who was consulted on all five cases told CBS 5 that he had never seen anything like this before.
All the pregnant women are or were in their early third trimester. Some required intubation or help breathing, sources said.
Some of these women were perfectly healthy, while others had underlying health conditions. While the doctor could not divulge what other health conditions these pregnant women had, the Centers for Disease Control said respiratory conditions such as allergies or asthma or even heart disease, may put a person at a higher risk.
The CDC and the World Health Organization also warned that pregnancy itself may be a risk factor for contracting H1N1.
CDC officials said they don't know why pregnant women may be at a higher risk for contracting swine flu or for complications following a swine flu infection. However, pregnant women, in general, have lowered immune systems.
The doctor interviewed by CBS 5 believes that with infected pregnant women who are in their third trimester, the enlarging fetus in the uterus may be pushing up and against a woman's diaphragm to such a degree, that she can no longer breathe as deeply, and may be at higher risk for pneumonia.
All public health officials and experts agree: if you are pregnant, and experience symptoms, do not panic; do not rush the emergency room or your doctor's office. Instead, call your doctor, describe your symptoms and ask whether you need to be tested.
The symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.
The CDC said many pregnant women who are infected with H1N1 will not have a problem. However, for some, the illness might progress quickly and then, may be complicated by secondary bacteria infections, most likely pneumonia.
As for treatment, certain antiviral medications may help. Tamiflu and Relenza are believed safe for use in pregnant and breast feeding women.
However, a new report from the CDC revealed how one patient from Denmark is infected with a strain of H1N1 swine flu that it resistant to Tamiflu.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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