Influenza, Pregnancy, and Fetal Outcome

THE EFFECT of virus infeetions on the outcome of pregnancy has been of interest to investigators since Gregg (1) demonstrated a relationship between congenital cataract and German measles in the mothers.Following Gregg's observation in 1941, several investiga¬ tors have attempted to associate virus infee¬ tions with congenital abnormalities, prematur¬ ity, fetal deaths, or maternal deaths.Swann (2) in 1943 implicated maternal mumps as a cause of fetal anomalies.Others {3-15) have since reported on the influence of virus infee¬ tions on both the fetus and the mother, with contradictory findings as to the effect of in¬ fluenza infection.As a result of some of these investigations, pregnant women are generally considered to be a high-risk group with respect to influenza.Eickhoff and co-workers recommended that