New research has revealed that pregnant women are 70 times more likely to get tuberculosis.The researchers from the Health Protection Agency warned midwives and GPs to look out for the symptoms of TB because it can be fatal if not treated.
Their study – published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine – examined the medical records of more than 190,000 women over 12 years.
They found the rate of TB among pregnant women or those who had given birth within the past six months was 15.4 per 100,000 compared with 9.1 per 100,000 among the general population.
They believe pregnancy may weaken a woman’s immune system, making her more susceptible to respiratory illnesses.
Experts suspect one reason the rates have recently increased is because of the higher numbers of immigrants coming to the UK from parts of Africa and Asia, where it is very widespread.
The illness is caused by bacteria that infect the lungs. Symptoms include cough, fever, tiredness, lack of appetite and weight loss.