Emerging Infections and Pregnancy

Overview

Journal Emerg Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2007 Feb 8

PMID 17283611

Citations 216

Authors

Denise J Jamieson

Regan N Theiler

Sonja A Rasmussen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A key component of the response to emerging infections is consideration of special populations, including pregnant women. Successful pregnancy depends on adaptation of the woman's immune system to tolerate a genetically foreign fetus. Although the immune system changes are not well understood, a shift from cell-mediated immunity toward humoral immunity is believed to occur. These immunologic changes may alter susceptibility to and severity of infectious diseases in pregnant women. For example, pregnancy may increase susceptibility to toxoplasmosis and listeriosis and may increase severity of illness and increase mortality rates from influenza and varicella. Compared with information about more conventional disease threats, information about emerging infectious diseases is quite limited. Pregnant women's altered response to infectious diseases should be considered when planning a response to emerging infectious disease threats.

Citing Articles

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection during pregnancy with placental weight and histopathologic lesions.

Theiler R, Warring S, Young M, Santos J, Branda M, Quinton R Placenta. 2024; 159():180-186.

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Safety of the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in 2 Successive Pregnancies.

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Perceived stress and life satisfaction in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of fear of childbirth and self-esteem.

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Zhu X, Peng Y, Chen Y, Xue M, Zhang A, Peng Y Vaccine X. 2024; 20:100536.

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