title: Influenza Illness in Pregnant Indian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Data about burden of influenza in pregnancy in India are scant. In order to assess the contribution of influenza to acute respiratory illness (ARI) in pregnancy, 266 north Indian pregnant females with febrile ARI were studied from December 2014 to May 2015. Twin nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs were obtained and tested for influenza viruses by RT-PCR. Fifty (18.8%) patients tested positive for influenza (A/H1N1pdm09 in 41, A/H3N2 in 8, and influenza B Yamagata in 1). Rigors, headache, and a family history of ARI were significantly more frequent in influenza positive patients. Oseltamivir and supportive therapy were administered to all confirmed cases. Nine influenza positive cases needed hospitalization for their respiratory illness, and 5 developed respiratory failure. Of these, 4 (3 in third trimester) succumbed to their illness. We conclude that influenza viruses are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant females with ARI in north India. As such, appropriate preventive strategies of influenza vaccination and early initiation of antiviral therapy during illness are stressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal & Pulmonary Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar 190011, India.
authors.forename: Parvaiz A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar 190011, India.
authors.forename: Nargis K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal & Pulmonary Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar 190011, India.
authors.forename: Hyder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lalla Ded Hospital for Women, Government Medical College, Srinagar 190010, India.
authors.forename: Farhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jabeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar 190011, India.
authors.forename: Abida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult