Pregnancy fever: Potential risks and when to seek medical attention
Pregnancy is a critical period that requires special attention and care. Recent research has linked fever during pregnancy to an increased risk of certain congenital irregularities and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism.
A fever, defined as a body temperature higher than the normal range, typically 99.3F (37.4C) or higher from the armpit or forehead, 100.4F (38C) or higher from the mouth, 101F (38.3C) or higher from the rectum or ear, is the body's way of fighting off an infection. However, during pregnancy, it can pose risks to the developing baby.
Fever during the first trimester may increase the chance of the baby being born with oral clefts, congenital heart defects, and neural tube defects by around 1.5 to 3 times. Moreover, a 2.9-fold increase in the risk of neural tube defects has been associated with fever during pregnancy. Similarly, there's a 94% increase in the risk of oral clefts, such as cleft lip or palate.
In addition to these, fever during pregnancy has been linked to a 54% increase in the risk of other congenital anomalies. Regarding autism, recent studies indicate that maternal infections accompanied by fever or sustained inflammation during pregnancy elevate the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring.
These associations highlight the importance of managing maternal infections and fever during pregnancy to minimize risks to fetal development. It's crucial for pregnant women to be aware of potential causes of a fever, including infections, certain medications, and certain medical conditions.
Preventive measures include getting the flu shot, frequently washing the hands, and staying away from sick people when possible. Home remedies such as resting and drinking lots of fluids may help with the symptoms of a fever and shorten the length of many illnesses.
However, if a fever is caused by a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Only a limited number of antibiotic medications have sufficient data related to safe and effective use during pregnancy. Pregnant women should not take ibuprofen, as it has been associated with low birth weight and asthma in the baby. Acetaminophen is the safest pain and fever relief medication to use during pregnancy, but pregnant women should only use it for as long as it is necessary to reduce the fever.
If symptoms of the flu are noticed, antiviral medications may be prescribed, which are most effective when taken within 48 hours of noticing the symptoms. If during pregnancy, a person experiences severe thirst, low urine output, dark urine, lightheadedness, severe cramps, difficulty breathing, decreased movement of the fetus, or the fever does not go down, they should seek medical help immediately.
Infections can cause up to 66% of late pregnancy losses. While fever does not necessarily cause pregnancy loss, it can be a sign of an infection. Current evidence shows that fevers during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of congenital irregularities (including neural tube defects and oral clefts) and also are linked to elevated autism risk in children. This underscores the need for careful prenatal care and fever management to protect fetal health.
Current research indicates that fever during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of certain congenital irregularities and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Pregnant women are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle, seek medical advice promptly if they experience a fever, and adhere to recommended prenatal care guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Birth Defects. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/ [2] Fang, X., & Buka, S. L. (2015). Maternal infections and autism spectrum disorders: A review of the epidemiological evidence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(11), 3199-3210. [3] March of Dimes. (2021). Zika Virus and Birth Defects. Retrieved from https://www.marchofdimes.org/a-z/zika-virus-and-birth-defects.aspx [4] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2021). Autism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Autism-Spectrum-Disorder-Information-Page [5] World Health Organization. (2021). Oropouche Virus. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/oropouche-virus#tab=tab_1
- During pregnancy, a fever, which is a body temperature higher than the normal range, may increase the risk of various congenital irregularities, including neural tube defects, oral clefts, and congenital heart defects.
- Recent research has linked maternal infections accompanied by fever or sustained inflammation during pregnancy to an elevated risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring.
- Infections can cause up to 66% of late pregnancy losses, and fever during pregnancy can be a sign of such an infection.
- Acetaminophen is the safest pain and fever relief medication to use during pregnancy, but it should only be used for as long as it is necessary to reduce the fever.
- If a fever does not go down, or if symptoms of the flu are noticed, pregnant women should seek medical help immediately.
- Pregnant women are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle, adhere to recommended prenatal care guidelines, and seek medical advice promptly if they experience a fever to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.
- Women's health, autism, bipolar, health-and-wellness, mental-health, therapies-and-treatments, fever, colitis, and ulcerative are all relevant topics in the context of pregnancy, given the potential risks and effects of fever during this critical period.
