TORONTO, Jun 18, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- 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.
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