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Potential for CHDs in newborns may be elevated if mother treated for fever, influenza
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Physicians who treat expectant mothers for fever or influenza should be aware of the potential for the infant to develop congenital heart defects, according to new data.
Matthew Oster, MD, and colleagues of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta examined records of 2,361 infants with CHDs and about 3,400 control infants without CHDs. The researchers used logistic regression analysis to determine the risk for infants having CHDs after their mothers experienced a high fever, influenza or had used an antipyretic agent 3 months before they delivered.
The researchers said there were significant associations between fever, influenza and right-sided obstructive defects (fever: OR=2.04; 95% CI, 1.27-3.27; influenza: OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.16-2.62) or atrioventricular septal defects in infants with Down syndrome (fever: OR=1.92; 95% CI, 1.10-3.38; influenza: OR=1.66; 95% CI, 1.04-2.63).
For more information:
- Oster ME. J Pediatr. 2011;doi:1016/j.jpeds.2010.11.058.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.