Title: Women's Health
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 3/28/1999
Last Editorial Review: 10/7/2008

Title: Women's Health
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 3/28/1999
Last Editorial Review: 10/7/2008

Title: Women's Health
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 3/28/1999
Last Editorial Review: 10/7/2008

Title: Women's Health
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 3/28/1999
Last Editorial Review: 10/7/2008

Using a fan while an infant is sleeping in a room with inadequate ventilation can decrease the risk of that infant dying of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to a report released on October 6, 2008 in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Sudden infant death syndrome, sometimes called cot death or crib death, describes the unexpected, unexplained death of an apparently health infant.

Despite national health experts' long-standing recommendation that women receive a flu shot while pregnant, three-quarters of women responding to a new national survey are unaware or unsure of these recommendations, and only 20 percent of those who are currently pregnant plan to get a flu shot this influenza season.

Using a fan while an infant is sleeping in a room with inadequate ventilation can decrease the risk of that infant dying of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to a report released on October 6, 2008 in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Sudden infant death syndrome, sometimes called cot death or crib death, describes the unexpected, unexplained death of an apparently health infant.

Despite national health experts' long-standing recommendation that women receive a flu shot while pregnant, three-quarters of women responding to a new national survey are unaware or unsure of these recommendations, and only 20 percent of those who are currently pregnant plan to get a flu shot this influenza season.

In order to determine the clinical significance of fetal abdominal cysts detected in the first trimester, we reviewed our experience with such cases collected over a 5-year period.Five cases in which a fetal abdominal cyst was detected by ultrasound in the first trimester were identified. Information on the ultrasound findings, antenatal course and perinatal outcome was obtained in all cases.The abdominal cyst was confirmed by an early second-trimester scan at 14-16 weeks in all cases, at which time no associated anomalies were detected. The standard detailed second-trimester scan at 18-22 weeks demonstrated complete resolution in three cases. These women had an uneventful antenatal course, and normal newborn infants were delivered at term. However, one of these infants had intestinal malrotation, chronic abdominal distension and midgut volvulus requiring surgery at the age of 7 months. Among the remaining two cases in which the abdominal cyst persisted, one required prenatal aspiration at 19 weeks owing to significant enlargement and resolved. The other remained stable in size and was managed conservatively, but the infant required surgery at the age of 7 weeks owing to a choledochal cyst causing intermittent episodes of acholia.Abdominal cysts in early pregnancy often resolve spontaneously or remain small and are usually associated with a good outcome. Nevertheless, as they can also be associated with serious underlying gastrointestinal pathological conditions, close surveillance in the perinatal period is advocated. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology)

(Source: BMJ)

A clinical trial has shown that pregnant women who receive the influenza vaccine provide immunity to their newborns as well. (Source: NYT > Health)