Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal (Sep 2020)
VERTICAL TRANSMISSION OF CORONA VIRUS DISEASE-19 (COVID-19) FROM INFECTED PREGNANT MOTHERS TO NEONATES
Abstract
Objective: To assess the vertical transmission of Corona Virus disease (COVID-19) from infected pregnant mothers to neonates. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from May 2020 to Jun 2020. Methodology: A total of 90 pregnant patients reported in Pak Emirates Military Hospital during the pandemic of COVID-19 with COVID-19 test positive from 01 May 2020 to 30 June 2020. Diagnosis was confirmed with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) of nasal and throat swabs. Clinical, analytical, laboratory and radiographic findings were then recorded. The (RT-PCR) for COVID-19 of all the babies who were delivered to these mothers was also done on throat and nasal swabs. The neonatal blood was also sent for serology (IgM/IgG). Results: Out of 90 patients studied, 46 were delivered either through a Caesarean section or by vaginal delivery. The patients were categorized as asymptomatic 51 (55.66%) and symptomatic 39 (43.33%). Out of those symptomatic, patients with mild to moderate disease were 33 (84.61%), patients with severe disease 05 (12.82%) and critically ill patient was 01 (2.56%). All the patients who delivered were COVID-19 test positive at the time of delivery and later when the babies of all these mothers were tested, they were all found to be COVID-19 negative on RT-PCR and no immunoglobulins were found in the serum of these neonates. The possibility for transplacental transmission could only be checked by these two methods (RT-PCR and Serology) since RT-PCR of amniotic fluid, high vaginal swab and breast milk was not available. Conclusion: In our study we did not find any evidence of vertical transmission of corona virus disease -19 (COVID-19) from infected pregnant mothers to neonates.
