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Swine flu killed a pregnant every 2 days in Brazil
Plant?o | Posted on 27/08/2009 at 18h21m
Fabiana quietdriveaddiction, O Globo
SAO PAULO - A pregnant woman died every two days in Brazil, a victim of the influenza A virus H1N1, since the pandemic began in May. On Thursday, a woman of 19 years underwent a cesarean section at the Hospital of the Marilia in Brazil. Ipaussu resident, she is seriously ill with pulmonary complications due to flu symptoms, but still was not ready to test that can confirm or not the new flu. The child, who was born at 36 weeks gestation, is in intensive care unit and well.
Pregnant women represent 10.4% of the 557 killed in Brazil, due to the flu, until August 22. The 10 women who contracted the disease in the country, 3 were pregnant. By the numbers released by the Ministry of Health, the 5206 confirmed cases of swine flu, 57.6% are female and that 69% of childbearing age - 29.7% were women. Among pregnant women who had infection with H1N1 virus confirmed in the laboratory, 12% died.
On Tuesday, also in Sao Paulo, died a 15-year-old died in the same hospital. Victim of swine flu, she was 8 months pregnant and doctors induced labor to save the baby, who survived. The girl died shortly after surgery.
According to the doctor Juv?ncio Furtado, president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases, there are no scientific studies that clearly show how the H1N1 virus which acts on the body of pregnant women.
- But we know that pregnant women have a different immune response. Because of pregnancy, the immune system has a different response, lower. We also found that the most severe cases among pregnant women is at the end of gestation. When the abdominal volume compresses the expansion of the lung, leading to accumulation of secretions and therefore the complications - the doctor explains.
In Belo Horizonte, the family of a 26 year old, who was 8 months pregnant, accused the hospital of negligence and says she was treated three times with flu symptoms and was treated only with an antipyretic. The hospital says there was no error, but made internal investigation to determine the death. According to Furtado, despite the World Health Organization strongly recommends the antiviral Tamiflu to pregnant women, there are cases in which doctors must assess whether it is really essential for treatment.
- At clinical examination can not differentiate avian influenza A common, but it is possible to differentiate from a cold or other problem. In a case of cold, for example, the antiviral perhaps should not be applied because, despite being a drug approved, we have not yet quite sure that does not cause side effects - Furtado says, noting that they support that everyone has access to medication if necessary.
- It's a decision that must be taken in seconds: whether or not the medicine. This is a very difficult time for the medicine and unfortunately sometimes the wrong people - said the infectious disease.
The Epidemiological Surveillance of S?o Paulo launched a specific document to guide the care of pregnant women in last August 11. The recommendation is that they are being treated with Tamiflu within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. This is the orientation of the World Health Organization: All pregnant women should receive the antiviral Tamiflu as soon as flu symptoms, as well as other patients to risk groups such as children under 5 years and heart disease.
Furtado said that information is essential for pregnant women, but he does not recommend total isolation.
- Nobody needs to be isolated at home. If there is no risk of contamination in the work, such as pregnant women by health workers, has no reason to have a license forced - says the doctor.
In Sao Paulo, the Epidemiological Surveillance recommends that pregnant women have priority attention in hospitals and medical stations, which are separated from people with flu symptoms. Guides also that pregnant women avoid using public transport, urban and travel. For services to pre-natal and maternity units, the orientation is to organize the work to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
According to the doctor, despite the Ministry of Health announced a reduction in the number of cases of the disease, it is time to relax in care.
- It's too early to believe that the pandemic is over. There is still the risk of a mutation in a second wave of more severe disease, especially during the winter in the northern hemisphere. So it is very important to the development of vaccine for H1N1. Obviously, there is no vaccine for everyone, but those most at risk will have to receive it, such as pregnant women and health professionals - says doctor.
For the infectious Mauro Salles, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, who also believes not too early to declare the end of the pandemic, reducing the cases may also have been caused by greater access to medicine.
- The number of cases began to fall two weeks. Earlier, the experts urged and managed the Health Ministry would release the prescription drug. Thus, any doctor could prescribe it, ensuring greater access to medicine. That could be reflected in a reduction of severe cases. Obviously, there may have also reduced the pandemic. Or both together. It is too early for any conclusion - said.
The two experts recommend that people just do not neglect the hygiene measures, such as not sharing personal items, and especially wash hands frequently.
Swine flu killed a pregnant every 2 days in Brazil
Plant?o | Posted on 27/08/2009 at 18h21m
Fabiana quietdriveaddiction, O Globo
SAO PAULO - A pregnant woman died every two days in Brazil, a victim of the influenza A virus H1N1, since the pandemic began in May. On Thursday, a woman of 19 years underwent a cesarean section at the Hospital of the Marilia in Brazil. Ipaussu resident, she is seriously ill with pulmonary complications due to flu symptoms, but still was not ready to test that can confirm or not the new flu. The child, who was born at 36 weeks gestation, is in intensive care unit and well.
Pregnant women represent 10.4% of the 557 killed in Brazil, due to the flu, until August 22. The 10 women who contracted the disease in the country, 3 were pregnant. By the numbers released by the Ministry of Health, the 5206 confirmed cases of swine flu, 57.6% are female and that 69% of childbearing age - 29.7% were women. Among pregnant women who had infection with H1N1 virus confirmed in the laboratory, 12% died.
On Tuesday, also in Sao Paulo, died a 15-year-old died in the same hospital. Victim of swine flu, she was 8 months pregnant and doctors induced labor to save the baby, who survived. The girl died shortly after surgery.
According to the doctor Juv?ncio Furtado, president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases, there are no scientific studies that clearly show how the H1N1 virus which acts on the body of pregnant women.
- But we know that pregnant women have a different immune response. Because of pregnancy, the immune system has a different response, lower. We also found that the most severe cases among pregnant women is at the end of gestation. When the abdominal volume compresses the expansion of the lung, leading to accumulation of secretions and therefore the complications - the doctor explains.
In Belo Horizonte, the family of a 26 year old, who was 8 months pregnant, accused the hospital of negligence and says she was treated three times with flu symptoms and was treated only with an antipyretic. The hospital says there was no error, but made internal investigation to determine the death. According to Furtado, despite the World Health Organization strongly recommends the antiviral Tamiflu to pregnant women, there are cases in which doctors must assess whether it is really essential for treatment.
- At clinical examination can not differentiate avian influenza A common, but it is possible to differentiate from a cold or other problem. In a case of cold, for example, the antiviral perhaps should not be applied because, despite being a drug approved, we have not yet quite sure that does not cause side effects - Furtado says, noting that they support that everyone has access to medication if necessary.
- It's a decision that must be taken in seconds: whether or not the medicine. This is a very difficult time for the medicine and unfortunately sometimes the wrong people - said the infectious disease.
The Epidemiological Surveillance of S?o Paulo launched a specific document to guide the care of pregnant women in last August 11. The recommendation is that they are being treated with Tamiflu within 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. This is the orientation of the World Health Organization: All pregnant women should receive the antiviral Tamiflu as soon as flu symptoms, as well as other patients to risk groups such as children under 5 years and heart disease.
Furtado said that information is essential for pregnant women, but he does not recommend total isolation.
- Nobody needs to be isolated at home. If there is no risk of contamination in the work, such as pregnant women by health workers, has no reason to have a license forced - says the doctor.
In Sao Paulo, the Epidemiological Surveillance recommends that pregnant women have priority attention in hospitals and medical stations, which are separated from people with flu symptoms. Guides also that pregnant women avoid using public transport, urban and travel. For services to pre-natal and maternity units, the orientation is to organize the work to minimize the risk of disease transmission.
According to the doctor, despite the Ministry of Health announced a reduction in the number of cases of the disease, it is time to relax in care.
- It's too early to believe that the pandemic is over. There is still the risk of a mutation in a second wave of more severe disease, especially during the winter in the northern hemisphere. So it is very important to the development of vaccine for H1N1. Obviously, there is no vaccine for everyone, but those most at risk will have to receive it, such as pregnant women and health professionals - says doctor.
For the infectious Mauro Salles, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo, who also believes not too early to declare the end of the pandemic, reducing the cases may also have been caused by greater access to medicine.
- The number of cases began to fall two weeks. Earlier, the experts urged and managed the Health Ministry would release the prescription drug. Thus, any doctor could prescribe it, ensuring greater access to medicine. That could be reflected in a reduction of severe cases. Obviously, there may have also reduced the pandemic. Or both together. It is too early for any conclusion - said.
The two experts recommend that people just do not neglect the hygiene measures, such as not sharing personal items, and especially wash hands frequently.
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