Influenza A is dangerous for pregnant women

Recently, Bach Mai Hospital has received many cases of pregnant women with influenza A.

Many of these cases become severe, seriously affecting the health of both mother and fetus. Specialists warn of the risks that influenza A can pose to pregnant women, especially in the first months of pregnancy.

Influenza A patients are being treated at medical facilities.

One notable case is the pregnant woman NTL (34 years old, in Bac Giang), 27 weeks pregnant, with a history of asthma and bronchitis. Three days before being admitted to the hospital, the patient had symptoms of cough, difficulty breathing and continuous fever.

After going to Bach Mai Hospital for examination, the test results showed that the patient had influenza A. After treatment, the patient's fever had gone down and she no longer had difficulty breathing. Obstetricians examined and found that the fetus was developing normally.

Another case is a pregnant woman TTL (32 years old, in Nam Dinh), 7 weeks pregnant, with symptoms of nasal congestion, difficulty breathing and high fever, up to 39°C. After testing, the patient was also diagnosed with influenza A and was treated at the hospital.

A more unfortunate case was that of pregnant woman NTĐ (35 years old, in Hai Duong), 21 weeks pregnant with twins. Due to influenza A infection and severe disease progression, she could not keep the fetus.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, said that influenza A can cause dangerous complications for pregnant women, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

The high fever caused by the influenza virus combined with the toxicity of the virus can stimulate uterine contractions, leading to miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth. The flu can also lead to birth defects such as congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, physical defects, and neurological disorders due to brain damage. However, not all pregnant women with the flu experience such serious problems.

Proper treatment and safe use of medication are very important. Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong emphasized that pregnant women should absolutely not take medication on their own. To ensure safety, pregnant women should go to medical facilities immediately when experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, sneezing, stuffy nose, or headache.

The good news is that the flu vaccine is completely safe for pregnant women. Getting vaccinated before or during pregnancy does not harm the fetus and helps protect the health of the mother and baby from serious complications. Doctors recommend that pregnant women get the flu vaccine to reduce risks for both mother and fetus.

Doctors warn that seasonal flu is not only dangerous for pregnant women but also affects other vulnerable groups, including:

Children under 12 months of age: Because the immune system is not fully developed. Elderly people aged 65 and over: Weakened immune system increases the risk of disease.

Pregnant women or women who have just given birth: Due to changes in physical condition and immune system during this time. People with underlying diseases such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and people who are taking long-term medication.

In addition to the above subjects, people with weakened immune systems, obese people (BMI over 40), people with diseases affecting the nervous system, and people under 20 years old who are taking aspirin for a long time also need to get the flu vaccine.

According to Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, every person needs to be vaccinated against seasonal flu to prevent serious complications caused by the disease.

Dr. Hai said that we currently have inactivated seasonal flu vaccines, which are vaccines that are dead or contain only part of the dead virus, and live attenuated vaccines. However, seasonal flu vaccines are mainly inactivated vaccines in the form of fragmented viruses, which are highly safe and effective.

According to Dr. Hai, flu vaccines can be "Trivalent" or "Quadvalent", meaning they contain 3 or 4 types of viruses. This helps the vaccine protect the body from most of the flu viruses that are commonly circulating in the world. In particular, it is important to pay attention to the type of vaccine that is appropriate for the season and region (Northern or Southern Hemisphere) because flu seasons in the two hemispheres are different.

To prevent seasonal flu and reduce the risk of getting sick, the Ministry of Health recommends that people take measures such as getting a seasonal flu vaccine: This is the most effective measure to protect the body from flu.

Wash your hands often: Use soap and clean water or hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing: Use a tissue, handkerchief or your sleeve to reduce the spread of secretions.

Wear a mask: When going out, especially in crowded places and on public transport. Reduce contact with people with the flu: Avoid unnecessary contact with people with the flu or suspected of having the flu. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat a nutritious diet, strengthen your immune system and exercise regularly.

Currently, seasonal flu is on the rise in many countries, especially Japan, which recorded about 9.5 million flu cases from September 2024 to January 2025, mainly caused by influenza A.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned of rising rates of influenza and acute respiratory infections (ARI) in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Health requires localities to deploy measures to prevent infectious diseases and monitor border health to detect cases early and limit the spread.

The Ministry of Health also recommends that people should not be subjective about the flu, because many cases of flu that are not treated promptly can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, multiple organ failure, and even death.

Seasonal influenza is a contagious disease that can cause dangerous complications, especially for pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions. Getting vaccinated against influenza and taking preventive measures are very important to protect your health and the health of the community. Pregnant women need to be careful and go to a medical facility immediately if they suspect they have influenza for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/cum-a-nguy-hiem-voi-phu-nu-mang-thai-d251213.html