KUMJ | VOL. 18 | NO. 2 | ISSUE 70 | COVID-19 SPECIAL 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic and Neonatal Health: What We Know so Far?
Bhandari TR, Dangal G
Abstract: COVID-19 first time appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The number of
cases increased rapidly in china and outside and the World Health Organization
declared a pandemic on 11
th
March 2020. The pregnant and postpartum women,
child, and neonatal populations are vulnerable to this disease due to immunological
and physiological changes. This paper analyzed the published evidence for assessing
the effect of COVID-19 on neonatal health and health care. Online published
literature was searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, and other official webpages
using keywords: “coronavirus/COVID-19/new coronavirus 2019”/SARS-CoV-2 and
neonatal health/care/outcomes” and reviewed to prepare this article.
COVID-19 is the potential to transmit either mother to fetus or mother/caregiver to
neonates. However, neonates born from infected mothers did not show significant
clinical features. Pharyngeal-swab, amniotic-fluid, cord-blood, and breast-milk test
results were not found positive. Health facility-based vaginal/caesarian delivery
was considered a low risk of transmission. However, recommended to separate
neonates with infected mothers/caregivers and test immediately after birth to
avoid the possible transmission. Mothers/caregivers should take routine preventive
measures such as washing hands frequently and avoiding contact with infected
people. If neonates suffered from the server acute respiratory distress requires
intensive care urgently. Despite the possibility of the intrauterine transmission
of COVID-19 direct evidence is still lacking so it needs more studies for further
confirmation. The International Pediatric Association suggested preventive
programs, curative care, vaccination, and telemedicine care as the minimum
services and called on its members to address these cares during the pandemic.
Keyword : COVID-19, Neonatal care, Novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Vertical transmission
