High fever–related maternal diseases as possible causes of multiple congenital abnormalities: A population‐based case‐control study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple congenital abnormalities (MCAs) represent the most severe category of structural birth defects; therefore, we decided to evaluate the possible etiological factors for MCAs. METHODS: The population‐based large data set of the Hungarian Case‐Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities (1980–1996) was evaluated. RESULTS: We compared the data of 1,349 cases with MCAs, 2,405 matched population controls without any defect, and 21,494 malformed controls with isolated congenital abnormalities. An association was found between a higher risk for MCAs and high fever–related influenza, common cold with secondary complications, tonsillitis, and recurrent orofacial herpes (adjusted ORs with 95% CIs: 2.3, 1.8–2.9). However, the risk for MCAs was reduced by antifever drug therapy (adjusted OR with 95% CI: 1.6, 0.9–2.9). CONCLUSIONS: An association was found between high fever–related maternal diseases and a higher risk for MCAs; however, a certain portion of these MCAs is preventable by antifever therapy. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2007.