The outcome of newborn babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers - An observational study from Eastern India

Abstract

Background: The study was done on outcome of the newborns born to COVID-19 positive mothers in a tertiary care hospital. Method: For this retrospective observational study, the COVID-positive mothers who delivered between August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021 were identified. The mothers belonged to middle socioeconomic group, had regular antenatal care and had access to good nutrition and healthcare. The data of their babies was collected. All the babies had a Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) test for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. The babies who were well, were roomed in with their mothers and exclusively breastfed. Sick babies were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). They were managed according to standard guidelines. No COVID-specific treatment was given to any of them. Their course in the hospital was recorded and the data analysed. Results: Among 52 babies, only 18.4% were positive on RTPCR testing. 32.7% were preterm. 23 (44.2%) babies required NICU admission while the rest were roomed in with the mother. Out of the 23 NICU admissions, 14 (26.9%) of them had sepsis, 6 (11.5%) had RDS, 6 (11.5%) had pneumonia, 14 (26.9%) had hyperbilirubinaemia while 2 (3.8%) had meningitis. None of the babies fulfilled the criteria for neonatal multisystem inflammatory syndrome. The babies who were positive on RTPCR testing were found to have some complications, of which sepsis and hyprerbilirubinaemia were the most frequent. Most of the babies required only appropriate supportive care with intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and phototherapy. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was administered to 3 (3.8%) babies for RDS and 2 of them needed mechanical ventilation. All the babies were discharged in a stable condition. Conclusion: The rate of perinatal acquisition is low. The babies of COVID positive mothers respond well to treatment, and more than half are asymptomatic. They are not at increased risk of mortality though there are complications needing treatment.

Keywords

• sars-cov2
• pregnancy
• preterm
• perinatal
• neonatal
• covid-19
• rtpcr
• sepsis
• hyperbilirubinaemia