ABSTRACT
Background: The global pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created a public health emergency straining the entire human race. The population of antenatal and postnatal women is subjected to additional anxiety and psychological stress due to issues related to the pandemic like the public health measures, such as quarantine, and anxiety about the health of the fetus. Aim: To study the prevalence of depression and anxiety in antenatal and postnatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: We have screened 300 women in a COVID-19 care center for psychological depression and anxiety. The Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) and also a self-reported questionnaire with COVID-specific anxiety questionnaire with eight items related to the COVID-9 pandemic were answered in graded response scale from 1 to 5. The clinical records identifying high-risk factors along with EPDS score and anxiety response were analyzed. EPDS greater than 13 was suggestive of probable depression. Anxiety questions were analyzed according to the percentage of questions that have been marked as ’much’ and ’very much' responses. Results: Among 300 women, the prevalence of depression was 43.3%. The anxiety question marked by 39% of women was about worries of the health of fetus graded as “very much” followed by that regarding the worries about delivery marked by 25.3% of women as very much. Conclusion: The increased psychological distress among pregnant women irrespective of COVID-19 status is significant. The preventive mental health strategies should be integrated with antenatal and postnatal care of women during the pandemic. © Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. 2021.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study clinical characteristics and outcome of children with admitted to a paediatric hospital in Mumbai, India. METHODS: Review of medical records of 969 children admitted between 19 March and 7 August, 2020, to assess the clinico-demographic characteristics, disease severity and factors predicting outcome in COVID-19 children. Variables were compared between children who were previously healthy (Group I) and those with co-morbidity (Group II). RESULTS: 123 (71 boys) children with median (IQR) age of 3 (0.7- 6) years were admitted, of which 47 (38%) had co-morbidities. 39 (32 %) children required intensive care and 14 (11.4%) died. Male sex, respiratory manifestation, oxygen saturation <94%;at admission, mechanical ventilation, inotrope, hospital stay of <10 days were independent predictors of mortality. Oxygen saturation <94% at admission (OR 35.9, 95% CI 1.5-856) and hospital stay <10 days (OR 9.1, 95% CI 1.04-99.1) were significant. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 in children with co-morbidities causes severe disease. Association of mortality with oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter <94% on admission, and hospital stay <10 days, needs further evaluation.
ABSTRACT
Neonatal data regarding SARS-CoV-2 is sparse from India. On review of hospital records from April- August, 2020, 18/423 (4.25%) neonates were SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive. 15 (83.3%) neonates recovered and 3 (16.6%) succumbed. Only 50% of the positive babies had positive mothers/ caretakers, a contact could not be traced in others.