ISSN: 2161-0932
Jai Shankar*, Khan MM, Qureshi K, Kumari K, Tariq R, Amir SU, Kumari C, Roy M, Aftab N, Khuhro A
Objective: The aim of this study is to conclude the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and the risk of vertical transmission in the newborn. Material and methods: This is a prospective study conducted in 40 pregnant women with positive COVID-19, admitted to Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College Karachi, Pakistan from 2nd June 2020 to 18th June 2020. All 40 patients were tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by use of quantitative RT-PCR (q RT-PCR) on sample from nasal and oral swab. We assessed the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and the risk of vertical transmission in the newborn. Results: A total of forty pregnant women with COVID-19 were included in this study. The twenty eight patients underwent lower caesarean section and twelve patients had spontaneous vaginal delivery. Twelve of the forty patients presented with fever and their body temperature ranges within 38-39℃, but none had postpartum fever. Other symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection were also found: Fifteen patients had a cough, thirty-two had shortness of breath, twelve reported sore throat and twenty indicated malaise, five had diarrhea and four had loss of taste. Twenty pregnant women with COVID-19 pneumonia had elevated white cell count (>11.0X10^9), while five showed leucopenia (<4.0X10^9). The presence of SARS-CoV-2 was tested in all neonates through sample taken from nasal and oral swab; however none the test detected SARS-CoV- 2 in these samples. Conclusion: The COVID-19 symptoms in pregnant women were various, with main symptoms being shortness of breath, malaise and cough. We found no evidence of vertical transmission in neonates