High fever-related maternal diseases as possible causes of multiple congenital abnormalities: a population-based case-control study.

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.