Exposure to the flu virus during the first semester of pregnancy can negatively affect your child's intelligence, according to recent research on populations in Norway and Hong Kong.
Researchers found that prenatal flu exposure results in an average IQ reduction of three to seven points by age 20.
The study examined data following the 1969 flu epidemic, which infected 15 to 40 percent of the population. Two decades later, IQ and cognitive tests were assessed in 200,000 men from these regions. After adjusting for numerous factors, those born about six months after the outbreak scored lower on IQ and mental performance tests.
Prior studies have established that alcohol, poor diet, tobacco, and drugs during pregnancy impair fetal brain development. This new research indicates that maternal flu infection also influences children's cognitive abilities later in life.
