Abstract
In the 2009/2010 pandemic, a new swine-origin influenza virus strain, a novel influenza A/H1N1 (variant) virus, has spread worldwide, causing more than 8000 deaths. Pregnancy poses an increased risk of influenza-related complications, which appears to be the case for the current pandemic of the novel influenza A/H1N1. Neuraminidase inhibitors, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (Relenza®), are drugs of choice for the novel influenza A/H1N1. In addition, antibiotics and antipyretics are often used for pregnant women with influenza-related complications and symptoms. Clearly, healthcare professionals should be aware of updated information on fetal safety of these medications, including vaccines. Safety of maternal anti-influenza therapy during breastfeeding is an equally relevant question in clinical settings.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
Toshihiro Tanaka is supported by Nobel Pharma Scholarship, TFB Scholarship, Scholarship for Researchers through the Japanese Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and RESTRACOMP through the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute (Canada). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.