COVID-19 INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY: A PERSPECTIVE OF MATERNAL AND FETAL OUTCOMES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52442/rjhs.v5i2.366Keywords:
IUD, Maternal Mortality, Oligohydramnios, PROM, Preterm LaborAbstract
Introduction: The novel coronavirus illness (COVID-19), which is brought on by the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused a worldwide pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). With nearly a million people infected as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 worldwide pandemic. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) epidemics of human coronaviruses have taught us that pregnant women and their fetuses are particularly susceptible to unfavorable outcomes. Due to their immature immune systems, the foetus and the infant are extremely susceptible to infections. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women and newborns are considered as potential risk groups.
Material & Methods: Pregnant patients with positive PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) reports presented to Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar were admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from November 2020 to July 2021. Total 50 pregnant women with covid-19 positive PCR results were assessed.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 37±5 years and the mean gestational age was 36±7 weeks. Maternal complications of COVID-19 include preterm labor (6%), maternal mortality (2%), premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (6%), and oligohydramnios (17%). As a finding of routine COVID-PCR testing 52% (26) and 44% (22) patients were asymptomatic and mild symptomatic respectively while 4% (2) were having severe symptoms. Fetal complications of COVID-19 include stillbirth (6%), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR; 17%), preterm birth (6%), fetal distress(2%) and median Apgar score of 5+2 All the neonates were covid negative in the first two days except one.
Conclusion: Pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 have fewer symptoms than the normal population and may still test negative for viral pneumonia on RT-PCR. Preterm deliveries, low birth weight, C-sections, and NICU admissions appear to be more common than in the general population.
