From the ArcaMax Publishing, Women Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/women/s-567413-690898
TORONTO (UPI) -- Pregnant women are at high risk of serious
complications from the H1N1 A influenza virus, Japanese and Canadian
researchers said.
Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the Japan
Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy in Tokyo said that pregnant
women, especially those in the third trimester, are especially at risk
of swine flu.
For treatment or prevention during the current pandemic, "oseltamivir
appears to be the drug of choice because there are more data on its
safety in pregnancy," Dr. Shinya Ito, head of the division of clinical
pharmacology and toxicology at The Hospital for Sick Children said in
a statement.
"Zanamivir can be used, although there is less data available about
its safety in pregnant women."
Neither drug appears to affect the growth and development of the
fetus, although ongoing data collection is important, the researchers
said.
The groups at high risk of flu-related complications from the novel
H1N1 influenza are the same as those for seasonal flu -- pregnant
women, children under age 5, the elderly and others such as those with
chronic lung conditions.
Only small amounts of oseltamivir and zanamivir are excreted into
human milk, the researchers said.
The finding is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.