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Maternal prenatal stress exposure and sex-specific risk of severe infection in offspring

Maternal stressful life events during pregnancy have been associated with immune dysregulation and increased risk for asthma and atopy in offspring. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal stress is associated with increased overall or specific infectious diseases in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We sought to examine the relationship between the nature and timing of maternal stress in pregnancy and hospitalisation with infection in offspring.

Citation:
Robinson M, Carter KW, Pennell CE, Jacoby P, Moore HC, Zubrick SR, Burgner D. Maternal prenatal stress exposure and sex-specific risk of severe infection in offspring. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(1):e0245747.

Keywords:
Raine study; prenatal stress; infection-related hospitalisation; respiratory tract infections

Abstract:
Maternal stressful life events during pregnancy have been associated with immune dysregulation and increased risk for asthma and atopy in offspring. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal stress is associated with increased overall or specific infectious diseases in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We sought to examine the relationship between the nature and timing of maternal stress in pregnancy and hospitalisation with infection in offspring.