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COVID-19 Infection in Iranian Newborns and their Mothers: a Case Series
Parisa Mohagheghi1, Javad Hakimelahi2, Zohreh Khalajinia3
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Neonatal COVID-19 cases often present with respiratory distress and viral pneumonia, responding well to oxygen therapy. While generally less severe in infants, this infection can be fatal, underscoring the need for careful monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents unique challenges in neonates compared to adults and older children.
- Limited research exists on neonatal and maternal COVID-19, particularly with small study populations.
Observation:
- This study analyzed 13 symptomatic Iranian newborns with confirmed COVID-19 and their maternal data.
- Most neonates exhibited symptoms at birth, primarily respiratory distress and tachypnea requiring respiratory support.
- Symptom onset varied, with some cases developing symptoms days after birth.
Findings:
- Neonatal COVID-19 frequently manifests with respiratory symptoms and radiographic evidence of viral pneumonia.
- The majority of neonates responded effectively to oxygen therapy.
- Despite generally milder symptoms in newborns, two cases resulted in mortality.
Implications:
- Neonatal COVID-19 requires vigilant monitoring and prompt respiratory support.
- Effective oxygen therapy is crucial for managing respiratory distress in affected neonates.
- The study emphasizes the critical need for favorable COVID-19 prognoses in infants and neonates, despite potential severity.
Background:
The symptoms, severity, and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are surprisingly different in neonates versus adults or even children. Currently, there are few studies on neonatal and maternal COVID-19 with limited populations.
Case Presentation:
In this study, we present 13 Iranian symptomatic newborns with a positive nasopharyngeal COVID-19 test and their maternal data on COVID-19. All neonates were admitted to the hospital at the first day of life, mostly having symptoms at birth, except three cases that had symptoms at days 2, 11, and 22. Almost all cases had respiratory distress and were tachypneic, which needed respiratory support. Although most cases were discharged after recovery, two patients died at days 12 and 48.
Conclusion:
Neonatal COVID-19 cases mostly had respiratory symptoms and subsequent radiographic features of a viral pneumonia; thus, they had an effective response to oxygen therapy. The symptoms were by far less severe in newborns, although we lost two cases to this infection. This highlights the necessity for good COVID-19 prognosis in infants and neonates.
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