A review of influenza virus infection during pregnancy

Respiratory influenza infection is one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality, affecting approximately 10% -20% of the  world’s population annually.  According to recent estimates, about 398,000 deaths per year are associated with influenza respiratory infections  with a mortality rate of 2% among viral respiratory infections. During the seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks, it has been found that pregnant women are more likely to have severe influenza-related complications, compared to the general population. During pregnancy, immunological and physiological changes that affect the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and other systems put  women at greater risk for certain infections and related complications. In this review study, we first briefly discuss the characteristics of influenza virus infection and its epidemiology, and then discuss the clinical aspects of influenza virus infection in pregnant women and fetuses.