7 comments Subscribe Subscribe
Pregnant women have long been advised to get a flu shot to prevent serious health complications from influenza. a new study, released March 11, 2010, suggests a flu shot during pregnancy may offer another long-term health benefit to the unborn child -- preventing an increased risk of schizophrenia.
Studying the effects of influenza on brain development
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted a study on how an influenza a infection during pregnancy affected the brains of rhesus monkey babies. Influenza a is a common cause of seasonal flu, especially during the early winter and early spring months.
The study involved 12 pregnant monkeys that were infected with a mild strain of influenza a virus while in their third trimester and 7 monkeys who remained healthy during their pregnancy. all the babies born to these monkeys appeared healthy at birth, with good birth weights and gestational lengths, as well as normal behavioral and neuromotor activity.
However, brain scans conducted after one year showed distinct differences between the babies from the influenza-infected mothers and those from the healthy monkeys. the babies from the mothers that had the flu were significantly smaller, with reduced areas of gray matter and white matter.
“The brain changes that we found in the monkey babies are similar to what we typically see in MRI scans of humans with schizophrenia,” said John H. Gilmore, M.D., professor of psychiatry in the UNC School of Medicine. “This suggests that human babies whose mothers had the flu while pregnant may have a greater risk of developing schizophrenia later in life than babies whose mothers did not have the flu.”
“This was a relatively mild flu infection, but it had a significant effect on the brains of the babies,” said lead author Sarah J. Short, Ph.D. “While these results aren’t directly applicable to humans, I do think they reinforce the idea, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that pregnant women should get flu shots, before they get sick.”
Getting a flu shot in Indianapolis
Pregnant women and other Indianapolis residents can receive seasonal and pandemic flu shots through the following Indianapolis area pharmacies and clinics:
CVS Minute Clinics
Walgreens Take Care Clinics
Kroger Pharmacies (with Wellness Services)
Marion County Health Department
Related article: Google launches new Flu Shot Finder to help locate local flu vaccination providers
For more articles by the Indianapolis Healthy Living Examiner, please visit Amanda's homepage. To keep up with health news and information, click the subscribe link at the top of the page to receive email notification when new articles are published.
Flu shots during pregnancy may prevent an increased risk of mental illness for ...