Severe COVID-19 in a newborn / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

We present a case of severe COVID-19 in a male newborn. A 22-day infant was transferred to Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University due to "intermittent fever for 18 days". The parents of the infant had been living in Wuhan and returned to Xinyang 9 days before delivery. Suspecting COVID-19 infection, a cesarean section was performed at 38 gestational weeks. The diagnosis of COVID-19 in the mother was confirmed at 2 days postpartum, as well as the father and the grandparents-in-law within 5 days postpartum. The baby developed fever and cough 5 days after birth, and a positive result for the new coronavirus nucleic acid test in the pharyngeal swab was shown 6 days after birth. The fever continued intermittently for 18 days, whilst nasal catheter oxygen inhalation treatment was administered. The percutaneous oxygen saturation decreased to 79% after cessation of oxygen, and the baby was transferred to the hospital for further treatment. After admission, the infant presented with cough, occasional choke, shortness of breath despite nasal catheter oxygen inhalation, increased heart rate, low urine volume, and an enlarged liver 2 cm below the right costal margin. The baby was diagnosed with severe COVID-19 accompanied by anemia, hyperkalemia, pneumonia, and atrial septal defect seen on the echocardiogram. After isolation in an incubator, oxygen inhalation, cardiotonic intervention, blood transfusion and antiviral treatment, the patient made a good recovery, with good breastfeeding, significant resorption of the lung inflammation and no fever or respiratory symptoms. The baby was discharged 14 days after hospitalization, with negative results for nucleic acid test of pharyngeal swab for 2 consecutive times.