If you get the flu while pregnant the odds of your child being schizophrenic are increased by 700 percent. Of course this does not mean your child will be schizophrenic but it does highlight the importance of remaining healthy and when possible avoiding exposure to those that have the flu.

It has been known some time that when a pregnant woman contracted respiratory infections such as influenza during pregnancy, there was a greater risk the fetus's brain would be permanently altered, leaving it prone to the possibility of mental illness later in life.

In 2007 research was begining to indicate that the damage may be related to a protein interleukin 6 (IL-6). Interleukin 6 is produced by the mother in her attempt to fight the virus. IL-6 is one of the most important mediators of fever. In the muscle and fatty tissue IL-6 stimulates energy mobilization which leads to increased body temperature and can be secreted by macrophages in response to specific microbial molecules.

IL-6 has also been implicated in Aging which is characterized by a proinflammatory state that contributes to the onset of disability and age-related diseases, including Atherosclerosis, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Osteoporosis, Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia and Alzheimer's disease and some forms of Arthritis and Cancer.

In animal studies IL-6 inhibitors have been shown to produce normal ofspring from infected mothers. In other research inhibition of Interleukin 6 mediated inflammation is being persued for prevention and treatment of aging and age-related disorders.