KIDSMaternal flu during pregnancy causes neuropsychiatric disorders in children.
Is this true? Make your call, then see what the science says.
Short answer: It depends. The evidence is mixed.
Some studies link flu in pregnancy with a higher chance of psychosis in adult children, but the findings conflict and don't prove cause. The best evidence is on schizophrenia, not on a broad range of childhood disorders.
AI-generated summary of the research cited · not reviewed by a medical professional · checked 14 October 2026 · How we checkWhat the research found
A 2015 meta-analysis of seven studies found maternal flu was linked to a higher risk of psychosis in the child. The risk ratio was 1.564 in birth cohort studies and 1.062 in ecological studies. These are associations, and the authors noted conflicting results in the wider literature.
A 2010 meta-analysis looked at births after the 1957 flu pandemic. Studies from the US, Europe and Australia found no significantly increased schizophrenia risk in children exposed in any trimester. A 2013 systematic review found results varied between studies. It suggested flu or other infections early in pregnancy may be more harmful than later exposure.
None of this evidence covers a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders in childhood. It focuses on schizophrenia and psychosis, which usually appear in adulthood. Nothing here shows flu directly causes these conditions.
What it doesn’t mean
- This does not mean flu in pregnancy is harmless. Australian guidance says flu can be serious for pregnant women and their babies, and can lead to complications such as premature labour or stillbirth.
- Australian guidance recommends the flu vaccine in every pregnancy, at any stage. It says extensive studies have found no evidence the vaccine harms unborn babies.
- Most children whose mothers had flu in pregnancy will not develop a psychiatric condition. If you had flu while pregnant and have concerns about your child's development, talk to your GP or child health nurse.
Sources
General information only, not medical advice. KIDS fact-checks are generated by AI from published research and are not reviewed by doctors or other health professionals. They can be wrong or out of date. Always talk to your GP or child’s doctor about your child, and call 000 in an emergency. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
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