Preventable Mental Retardation?

A study in the July issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that untreated urinary tract infection during the first and third trimester of pregnancy is associated with a 40% increase in mental retardation and developmental delays in the babies, compared to those whose mothers took antibiotics for their infections. A urinary tract infection is not just a nuisance! While I am in favor of minimizing medicines during pregnancy, a positive urine culture in a pregnant woman should not be regarded cavalierly, but should be treated quickly.