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High-Risk Preterm Infant Born to a Mother With COVID-19: A Case Report
Cibelle Kayenne Martins Roberto Formiga1, Aline Helena Nascimento Veloso1, Kathlen Terezinha Montes Soares Fernandes1
1Department of Physiotherapy, State University of Goiás-UEG, Goiânia, Brazil.
Insights
This case study highlights a preterm infant born to a mother with COVID-19 complications. Despite initial health issues, the infant showed resilience and age-appropriate neuromotor development with supportive care.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Health
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- COVID-19 poses risks to pregnant women and fetuses, including potential vertical transmission.
- Neuropsychomotor and functional outcomes in infants born to mothers with COVID-19 are understudied.
- This report focuses on a high-risk preterm infant born to a mother hospitalized for COVID-19 complications.
Observation:
- The infant was born prematurely at 30 weeks gestation with low birth weight and Apgar scores indicating initial distress.
- Neonatal complications included cardiorespiratory issues and periventricular white matter hyperechogenicity.
- The infant's COVID-19 tests post-birth were negative.
Findings:
- The infant experienced speech and language delays during follow-up.
- Neuromotor development was consistent with the infant's corrected age.
- The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework was used for assessment.
Implications:
- Comprehensive healthcare and follow-up fostered resilience in the infant and family.
- ICF-based assessments can inform future research on infant development post-maternal COVID-19.
- This case underscores the importance of monitoring developmental trajectories in infants exposed to maternal COVID-19.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns about risks for pregnant women and fetuses, considering factors such as vertical transmission and neonatal alterations caused by maternal infection. Despite this, neuropsychomotor and functional complications in infants delivered by mothers with COVID-19 are still little studied. Thus, we aimed to describe the health history and development based on ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) components of a high-risk preterm infant born to a mother hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications. This case report was based on medical records, developmental assessments, and maternal reports. The infant was born at 30 weeks and 3 days, weighing 1,300 g, measuring 40 cm, and with Apgar scores of 2, 5, 6, and 7. COVID-19 test was negative 1 and 72 h after birth. Moreover, the infant had cardiorespiratory complications and hyperechogenicity of the periventricular white matter. The infant presented speech and language delays during follow-up, but neuromotor development occurred according to age. The health care and follow-up provided helped the development of resilience mechanisms by the infant and family to overcome adversities in the prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal periods. The assessments based on ICF components can contribute to future studies on this topic.
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