[COVID-19 during pregnancy and lactation: what do we already know?]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Virology

Background:

• The rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) includes pregnant and lactating populations.
• Pregnant women are recognized as a high-risk group for severe respiratory infections.
• Current understanding of COVID-19's impact on pregnancy and lactation remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize the available data on the risks and consequences of COVID-19 in pregnant and lactating women.
• To assess the clinical presentation and severity of COVID-19 in pregnancy.
• To investigate potential adverse neonatal outcomes and the possibility of intrauterine or breastmilk transmission.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies and case reports on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant and lactating women.
• Analysis of reported symptoms, disease severity, and maternal outcomes.
• Evaluation of neonatal outcomes, including prematurity and respiratory distress.
• Assessment of evidence regarding viral transmission to neonates.

Main Results:

• Pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 generally exhibit similar symptoms to non-pregnant individuals.
• Most pregnant women with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms; severe disease is not definitively more common than in the general population.
• Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with potential adverse neonatal outcomes, such as preterm birth and respiratory symptoms in newborns.
• While intrauterine transmission cannot be definitively ruled out, evidence is inconclusive. SARS-CoV-2 has not been detected in breastmilk in most studies, but passage remains a possibility.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 in pregnant women presents similarly to the general population, though they remain a vulnerable group.
• Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection poses risks for adverse neonatal outcomes.
• Further research is needed to conclusively determine the absence of intrauterine transmission and the potential for viral shedding in breastmilk.