Study: Flu in Pregnancy Linked to Schizophrenia

August 14, 2004

Reuters

August 3, 2004

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A bout of the flu during the first half of pregnancy may

damage the fetal brain and raises the risk of children developing

schizophrenia later in life, researchers said on Monday.

In a small 64-family sample, researchers found the risk of developing the

major mental disorder in adult offspring rose seven-fold if the expectant

mother had the flu during the first trimester.

If the virus struck between the midpoint of the pregnancy´s first trimester

and the midpoint of the second, the risk rose three-fold. There was no

increased risk if the flu occurred in the second half of the pregnancy.

" These findings represent the strongest evidence thus far that prenatal

exposure to influenza plays a role in schizophrenia, " said the study´s lead

author, Ezra Susser of the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

In previous studies establishing a connection between flu in pregnant

mothers and schizophrenia in their children, the link was seen in the second

and third trimesters, the study said.

Unlike those studies, which used estimates of the peaks of flu outbreaks and

mothers´ memories, this research examined preserved blood samples taken

between 1959 and 1966. The research is part of a larger study of

schizophrenia examining prenatal infection, nutrition, chemical exposure,

paternal age and other factors.

Among the people in the study with schizophrenia, one quarter of their

mothers had been exposed to influenza compared to one in 10 of the control

subjects.

Schizophrenia is a general term referring to psychotic disorders that

produce delusional or illogical thinking. Initial signs of the disease

typically emerge in people in their teens or 20s.

The study suggested factors that could damage the fetal brain including the

mother´s antibodies crossing the placenta and reacting with the fetus´

developing immune system, the presence of genetic material from the strain

of influenza, and the mother´s elevated body temperature.

Over-the-counter flu remedies also might cause central nervous system

problems, it said.

The study´s findings may raise questions about routine vaccinations of women

because the antibodies generated could damage a fetus.

The study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

August 14, 2004

SPARE ME!!!! Misty <misty3 wrote:

Study: Flu in Pregnancy Linked to SchizophreniaReutersAugust 3, 2004CHICAGO (Reuters) - A bout of the flu during the first half of pregnancy maydamage the fetal brain and raises the risk of children developingschizophrenia later in life, researchers said on Monday.In a small 64-family sample, researchers found the risk of developing themajor mental disorder in adult offspring rose seven-fold if the expectantmother had the flu during the first trimester.If the virus struck between the midpoint of the pregnancy´s first trimesterand the midpoint of the second, the risk rose three-fold. There was noincreased risk if the flu occurred in the second half of the pregnancy."These findings represent the strongest evidence thus far that prenatalexposure to influenza plays a role in schizophrenia," said the study´s

leadauthor, Ezra Susser of the New York State Psychiatric Institute.In previous studies establishing a connection between flu in pregnantmothers and schizophrenia in their children, the link was seen in the secondand third trimesters, the study said.Unlike those studies, which used estimates of the peaks of flu outbreaks andmothers´ memories, this research examined preserved blood samples takenbetween 1959 and 1966. The research is part of a larger study ofschizophrenia examining prenatal infection, nutrition, chemical exposure,paternal age and other factors.Among the people in the study with schizophrenia, one quarter of theirmothers had been exposed to influenza compared to one in 10 of the controlsubjects.Schizophrenia is a general term referring to psychotic disorders thatproduce delusional or illogical thinking. Initial signs of the diseasetypically emerge in people in their teens or 20s.The

study suggested factors that could damage the fetal brain including themother´s antibodies crossing the placenta and reacting with the fetus´developing immune system, the presence of genetic material from the strainof influenza, and the mother´s elevated body temperature.Over-the-counter flu remedies also might cause central nervous systemproblems, it said.The study´s findings may raise questions about routine vaccinations of womenbecause the antibodies generated could damage a fetus.The study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§ - PULSE ON WORLD HEALTH CONSPIRACIES! §Subscribe:......... - To :....

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