COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Interrelationships With Asthma and Allergy

Department

Allergy and Immunology

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. In Practice

Abstract

Pregnant individuals are at higher risk of complications from respiratory viruses such as coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19). Altered lung function, vaccine hesitancy, and resistance to taking necessary medications because of a lack of safety data in pregnancy make this population especially vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. Like many medical conditions, the treatment of allergic conditions, including asthma and allergic rhinitis, were affected during the pandemic, with decreased numbers of in-person visits and interruptions in medical treatment. There were initially no data to allow pregnant women with asthma know whether the condition put them at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. There are now increasing data for the efficacy and safety of vaccines for COVID-19 in at-risk populations, including pregnant women. Vaccine studies show no increased risk for spontaneous abortion, congenital anomalies, or pregnancy complications. Furthermore, infants of individuals vaccinated during pregnancy have been shown to obtain protective antibodies via the placenta, providing protection against COVID-19 after birth. Although overall risks are low, pregnant women who become infected with COVID-19 are at higher risk for maternal and pregnancy complications. Antiviral treatment is available for pregnant women with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, with reassuring safety data to date. Dexamethasone is the mainstay of inpatient therapy.

First Page

3597

Last Page

3604

DOI

10.1016/j.jaip.2023.08.022

Volume

11

Issue

12

Publication Date

12-1-2023

PubMed ID

37604428

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS