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H1N1 Update: In Pregnancy, Treat Suspected H1N1 Promptly Without Awaiting Test Results
Pregnant women with novel H1N1 are at increased risk for severe complications, and they should be treated promptly with anti-influenza drugs, CDC researchers say.
Writing online in Lancet, the researchers enumerate the cases of novel H1N1 disease and deaths among pregnant women early in the pandemic. According to their calculations, pregnant women were over "four times more likely to be admitted [for severe H1N1 disease] than ... the general population."
The researchers point out that none of those who died had received prompt antiviral treatment — i.e., within 48 hours of illness onset. The CDC recommends that pregnant women with suspected H1N1 disease start treatment even without viral testing.
LINK(S):
Lancet article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)
CDC recommendations for pregnant women and H1N1 (Free)
NEJM/Journal Watch H1N1 Influenza Center (Free)
Published in Physician's First Watch July 29, 2009
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