Measles infection in pregnancy is dangerous for mother and fetus

Objectives:
Pregnant women represent a category at high risk of severe measles infection, that negatively affects the fetus as well.

The goal of this review article is to determine clinical outcomes of measles infection in gravid subjects and antibodies prevalence among pregnant women.

Study design:
This review article included 29 studies with a total of 420 cases of measles in 20,546 gravid women (pregnant women), from 1941 to 2012.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found among women, 18 deaths (4.3%) occurred and the most frequent complication was pneumonia [75/420, 17.9%].

The investigators found prematurity was the most important complication concerning fetal outcomes [55 out of 410 cases with available data, 13.4%].

The investigators found the random-effects pooled seroprevalence of measles in 20,546 gravid women worldwide was 89.3% [95% CI = 87.3 to 91.1%], that decreased, although not in a statistically significant way, over time [p = 0.54].

The investigators concluded measles infection in pregnancy is dangerous both for the mother and the fetus. Antibody seroprevalence among gravid women on a global scale is lower than the herd immunity threshold.

Original title:
Measles in pregnant women: A systematic review of clinical outcomes and a meta-analysis of antibodies seroprevalence by Congera P, Maraolo AE, […], Tosone G.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31891729

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on food fortification/malnutrition and pregnancy right here.