Pregnant women should not be too often consume drugs to treat diseases or infections that commonly occur during pregnancy, because a recent study found that it could lead to increased risk of preterm delivery.
In the study, pregnant women who take antibiotics metronidazole, to treat vaginal infections (asymptomatic vaginal trichomoniasis), it has twice as likely to give birth prematurely, compared to women who received placebo.
The researchers found that 19% of women who received the drugs gave birth to a baby before 37 weeks, whereas only 11% of women who consumed a placebo who give birth prematurely. While the full pregnancy is 40 weeks, but delivery ranging from 38 to 42 weeks is comparatively safe.
"Treatment for pregnant women who develop asymptomatic trichomoniasis increases the risk of premature birth, according to Klebanoff and colleagues. Therefore, the examination and treatment for this condition should not be recommended for pregnant women.
Examination and treatment of infection is recommended during pregnancy. However, the researchers were surprised to discover that although the drugs can cure the infection, but in fact it still increased the risk of a woman to give birth prematurely. Klebanoff recommends that women diagnosed with trichomoniasis during pre-natal visits are encouraged to delay treatment until now about to give birth or after birth.
If the symptoms are increasing rapidly, or if she felt uncomfortable just letting the disease without treatment, then treatment can be given origin is closely monitored by doctors.
The research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
