Posts Tagged ‘fetus’
With the reports of swine flu deaths increasing in South Africa, the focus now lies on identifying high risk groups prone to fatalities from the H1N1 virus and either vaccinating or starting treatment immediately. Globally, the high risk groups were considered to be children, patients with chronic conditions, pregnant women, the elderly and health care workers. However, as the time passes and a clearer ‘disease picture’ emerges, it appears that pregnant women are among the higher risk, while the elderly are less at risk than younger people. South Africa has been the first country to announce immediate treatment for any pregnant woman in the second or third trimester with many other countries now following suit.
After conception, the fertilised egg exits the fallopian tubes and attaches itself to the lining of the uterus where the fetus will grow and develop. In most cases, the attachment or implantation occurs on the endometrium of the uterus and the fetus has enough space to grow as the uterus stretches and expands. However in an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilised egg does not attach to the endometrium of the uterus. Implantation may occur elsewhere, usually in the fallopian tubes (tubal implantation or ‘tubal pregnancy’) and less commonly in the cervix, ovary or abdomen.