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Upper respiratory infection during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes among offspring

Samantha E Parker1, Virginia A Lijewski1, Patricia A Janulewicz2

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States.

Neurotoxicology and Teratology
|June 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Maternal upper respiratory infection (URI) during pregnancy did not impact child cognition but was linked to increased behavioral problems. Mid-pregnancy infections showed a stronger association with poorer outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Maternal infections during gestation are linked to offspring psychiatric disorders.
  • Understanding prenatal exposure effects on child development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal upper respiratory infection (URI) during pregnancy and cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children.
  • To explore if the timing of URI in pregnancy influences these outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 534 mother-child pairs.
  • Prenatal exposures assessed via interview; child outcomes assessed between ages 5-12.
  • Cognition measured by PPVT-III and VMI-5; behavior by CBCL and TRF.

Main Results:

  • Maternal URI during pregnancy was not associated with cognitive outcomes in offspring.
  • URI was associated with modest increases in behavioral problems reported by mothers and teachers.
  • Infections in mid-pregnancy (months 4-5) correlated with poorer behavioral scores compared to early pregnancy (months 2-3).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal URI during pregnancy does not appear to negatively affect childhood cognition.
  • Prenatal URI may be associated with an increased risk of behavioral problems in children.
  • The timing of URI in pregnancy might influence the severity of behavioral outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
CBCLInfectionOffspring neurodevelopmentPregnancyTRF

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