Maternal influenza infection during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of seizures and febrile convulsions in children, according to a study published online on September 23 in JAMA Network Open.
Led by Dr. Yi-Feng Lee from Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, the study examined the association between maternal influenza infection and the risk of childhood seizures through a comprehensive cohort analysis involving 1,316,107 mother-offspring pairs. These pairs were identified from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2013. In this study, mothers who experienced influenza during pregnancy (75,835 mothers) were placed in the influenza group and matched in a 1:4 ratio with mothers who did not contract the virus during pregnancy.
Key Findings
The researchers observed a slightly higher prevalence of placenta previa and placental abruption in the influenza group compared to the control group (1.6% versus 1.4%). Notably, offspring born to mothers who had influenza infection exhibited a higher cumulative risk of developing seizures. The adjusted hazard ratios (with 95% confidence intervals) for seizures, febrile convulsions, and epilepsy were as follows:
Seizures: 1.09 (1.05 to 1.14)
Febrile Convulsions: 1.11 (1.06 to 1.17)
Epilepsy: 1.04 (0.97 to 1.13)
These findings were adjusted for potential confounding factors.
The authors conclude that maternal influenza infection during pregnancy may elevate the risk of childhood seizures, particularly febrile seizures, while not significantly impacting the risk of epilepsy. They emphasize the need for further studies to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie neurological development in children following maternal infection during pregnancy.
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