ABSTRACT
Background: The role of children in transmitting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is difficult to ascertain and the consequences remain unclear. This is necessary for public health or infection control purposes. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, month-wise trends and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among children in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on all pediatric samples of suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The samples were received from the adjoining districts and our Institution in the Department of Microbiology from June to November 2020. Cases were then confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Of the total 62,030 pediatric samples tested, 847 (1.3%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive. The majority of positive cases were between the ages of 11-15 years. The median age of confirmed patients was 14 years. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. Infants represented 1.6% of the positive cases. About 62.1% of all positive cases were asymptomatic. Childhood cases increased from June 2020 and peaked in September 2020 before declining. Conclusion: Children of all ages appeared susceptible to COVID-19 and accounted for a very small proportion of confirmed cases. Mostly, children were found to be asymptomatic. Young children can be important transmitters of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population. This population can be important for targeting immunization efforts throughout a rapidly evolving situation. Our findings provide further evidence of the distribution of infection in children and the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading throughout the world along with its strange and frightening mutations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it as a global pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The present investigation aims to evaluate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on mother and newborn outcomes and the vertical transmission potential of this virus. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary care dedicated COVID-19 hospital. A total of 40 pregnant females (RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2) and their 41 neonates (including stillbirths and a twin delivery) were included in the present study. RESULTS: All the mothers in the study were SARS-CoV-2 positive on the RT-PCR test, but none had any COVID-19 symptoms (pneumonia-like fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath, and diarrhea). Out of 41 newborns, 38 (92.7%) were healthy, one (2.4%) was a stillbirth, and two newborns (4.9%) could not be revived. All the 41 (100.0%) neonates, including stillborn and preterm were negative for the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Twenty-Six neonates (63.4%) were delivered by caesarean section, whereas 15 cases (36.6%) had a normal vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: The present study showed no suggestion of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant females. Therefore, the placenta might function as a barrier to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Also, there were no complications come upon during the delivery of any neonate in the present study.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic, parts of the public health system at increased risk of reduced efficiency include healthcare services for women and children. This in turn could reverse all the progress achieved over the years in reducing maternal and child mortality. In this study, an attempt has been made to assess the indirect effect of the pandemic on maternal and child health services in public health facilities. METHODS: Data pertaining to maternal and child health services being provided under specific Government programmes, were collected from public health facilities of District Sant Kabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, India. Comparative analysis of the data from the pandemic phase with data from the year 2019 was done to determine the impact on services. RESULTS: Reduced coverage across all maternal and child health interventions was observed in the study. There was an overall decrease of 2.26 % in number of institutional deliveries. Antenatal care services were the worst affected with 22.91% decline. Immunization services were also dramatically decreased by more than 20%. CONCLUSION: The response of the public healthcare delivery system to the Covid-19 Pandemic is negatively affecting both the provision and utilization of maternal and child healthcare services. It is deterrent to the progress achieved in maternal and child health parameters over the years. Better response strategies should be put in place to minimize lag in service deliwvery.
ABSTRACT
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 37,704,153 cases and 10,79,029 deaths due to COVID-19 till the 13th October 2020 in the world. Day by day, rise in the number of COVID-19 deaths has created great pressure on health facilities, governmental bodies, and health workers. There is a need for knowledge regarding lifecycle, transmission, and different strains of SARSCoV2, so that countries can stop the disease as early as possible. The present study was conducted to review various epidemiological aspects along with measures used in the containment and prevention of this new pandemic. The scientific literature database was searched using the terms: coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, SARSCoV2, and COVID-19. Articles with appropriate topics fulfilling the objective of the present work were included. The epidemiological characteristics regarding life-cycle, intermediate hosts, viability on various surfaces, strains, case fatality rate, and their implication to reduce the transmission of SARSCoV2 have been identified. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta (updated till October 05, 2020) people with recurrent or persistent positive COVID-19 tests in South Korea and USA did not show to have live virus in their bodies. As per WHO web-page information till 15 October 2020, there were 42 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation and 156 vaccines are in preclinical evaluation phase. As the virus can easily be transmitted to the people either via droplets, fomites, and may be via the fecal-oral route, knowledge regarding the above-mentioned areas is needed for time to be prepared for the next waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.