Intrauterine transmission of H1N1 disease: a theory that needs evidence!

Manar Al-Lawama1, E Badran, N Khuri-Bulos

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The University of Jordan, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. manar-76@hotmail.com

Three pandemics of influenza in the 20th century have been described. Unfortunately, a little is known about the effect of those pandemics on newborn infants. We are reporting our experience with newborns born to mothers proved to have H1N1 illness perinatally, who presented with sepsis-like illness at birth or shortly after, and were treated as having H1N1 disease. This study will report on the clinical features, outcome and discuss diagnosis and treatment challenges and also the possibility of intrauterine H1N1 transmission. Our cases had good neonatal outcome, H1N1 intrauterine transmission still a possibility that needs further research efforts.

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