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Background: Many aspects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) pandemic in 2019 have been unclear, especially in newborns, and reports of neonatal diseases are usually associated with perinatal infection. Objective(s): The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and para-clinical manifestations in newborns that contracted the infection after birth. Method(s): This observational research was conducted from October 2020 to March 2022 to examine postnatal SARSCoV2 infection in infants admitted to the NICU or neonatal ward at the Children's Medical Center in Tehran, Iran. Inclusion in the study was open to neonates who had positive RT-PCR results postnatally. Result(s): In total, 55 newborns were confirmed to have postnatal SARSCOV2. Fever was the most frequently observed symptom, with 35 (61%). Necrotizing enterocolitis was seen in 18% of neonates, and 30% of them were preterm. Neutropenia was seen in 34% of cases, with five cases having severe neutropenia. All neonates had a normal platelet count. Twenty percent of patients showed C-reactive protein higher than 6 mg/L. Two newborns had co-existing bacterial urinary tract infections. Our neonates didn't require antiviral, anticoagulant, or corticosteroid medications, and they recovered while receiving only supportive care. Everyone in the group of newborns was discharged without complications, and there were no deaths. Conclusion(s): The high rate of fever, high C-reactive protein, and neutropenia in SARSCoV2 neonates suggests that more observational research is needed to compare these symptoms to bacterial sepsis to avoid the overuse of antibiotics in these patients.Copyright © 2023, Author(s).
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Background: Pregnant women with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are more likely than non-pregnant women to develop severe COVID-19 complications. In addition, COVID-19 is linked to unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. Due to the lack of effective COVID-19 treatment, it is critical to assess geographic differences and trends in current clinical care and the effect of COVID-19 on pregnant women. This review aims to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in COVID-19 pregnancies. We searched the Medline database for research papers from January 2019 to December 31, 2021. Eleven studies of systematic, meta-analysis, review, and cohort designs were included with searched keywords {Pregnancy AND COVID [MeSH Terms]}. This study summarizes the maternal characteristics, vertical Transmission, maternal and neonatal outcomes, the rate of cesarean section, comorbidities, mechanical ventilation, ICU admission rate, mode of delivery, type of anesthesia, the average hospital length of stay (HLOS), the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, chest x-ray and CT scan findings, treatments, and outcomes over time. © 2020 The author (s).
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OBJECTIVES: To summarize the clinical features of neonates infected with Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: The medical data of 23 neonates with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to the City North Campus of Urumqi First People's Hospital from October to December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: All 23 infants had a history of exposure to confirmed caregivers with SARS-CoV-2 infection after birth, and none of them was vertically transmitted. Clinical classification: 5 cases of asymptomatic infection, 18 cases of mild infection, and no cases of moderate, severe, or critically ill. The first symptoms were fever in 13 cases, cough in 3 cases, nasal congestion in 1 case, and diarrhea in 1 case. Blood white blood cell counts decreased in 2 cases, and C-reactive protein increased in 1 case. Seven infants underwent chest X-ray examination due to cough or shortness of breath, and one of which showed focal exudative changes, while the rest showed no abnormal changes. All infants were discharged after symptomatic treatment and the median hospital stay was 6 days. The duration of nucleic acid positivity of SARS-CoV-2 was negatively correlated with N gene Ct values and ORF1ab gene Ct values (rs=-0.719 and -0.699, respectively; P<0.05). One month after discharge, all infants had no symptoms or signs of nucleic acid re-positivity. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations are usually mild or asymptomatic in neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The lower the Ct values of the N and ORF1ab genes of SARS-CoV-2, the longer the duration of nucleic acid positivity. Neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant can have a good prognosis after symptomatic treatment.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Cough , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first emerging in December 2019 and continuously evolving, poses a considerable challenge worldwide. It was reported in the literature that neonates had mild upper respiratory symptoms and a better outcome after Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection, but there was insufficient data about complications and prognosis. Case Presentation: In this paper, we present the clinical and laboratory characteristics of four COVID-19 neonate patients with acute hepatitis during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave. All patients had a clear history of Omicron exposure and were infected via contact with confirmed caregivers. Low to moderate fever and respiratory symptoms were the primary clinical manifestations, and all patients had a normal liver function at the initial stage of the course. Then, the fever lasted 2 to 4 days, and it was noted that hepatic dysfunction might have occurred 5 to 8 days after the first onset of fever, mainly characterized by moderate ALT and AST elevation (>3 to 10-fold of upper limit). There were no abnormalities in bilirubin levels, blood ammonia, protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and coagulation. All the patients received hepatoprotective therapy, and transaminase levels gradually decreased to the normal range after 2 to 3 weeks without other complications. Conclusions: This is the first case series about moderate to severe hepatitis in COVID-19 neonatal patients via horizontal transmission. Besides fever and respiratory symptoms, the clinical doctor should pay much attention to evaluating the risk of liver function injury after SARS-CoV-2 variants infection, which is usually asymptomatic and has a delayed onset.
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RESUMEN La pandemia del nuevo coronavirus continúa con nosotros y lo hará por largo tiempo. Ha causado un nuevo modo de vivir, con aislamiento, protección personal, distanciamiento, empleo de la virtualidad y otros. Se ha mejorado el diagnóstico del infectado y su manejo. No existe cura aún, aunque se cuenta con vacunas aprobadas con premura. La crisis de salud ha desnudado la falta de preparación de nuestros sistemas de salud, y ha devenido en crisis políticas y económicas, empobrecimiento, muerte e inquietud emocional y psicológica. En estas páginas continuamos escribiendo de manera resumida los nuevos conocimientos sobre el SARS-CoV-2 y la enfermedad COVID-19, su diagnóstico, fisiopatología, manejo sintomático y de la enfermedad severa, la reinfección, sus secuelas y letalidad. Pero, principalmente, el compromiso de la mujer infectada durante el embarazo y el parto y puerperio, así como aspectos del alojamiento conjunto y lactancia; y qué ocurre cuando la infección afecta al neonato. Queda por saber el futuro de las madres y niños que sufrieron la infección.
ABSTRACT The new coronavirus pandemic continues with us and will do so for a long time. It has brought a new way of life, with isolation, confinement, personal protection, distancing, use of virtuality and others. The diagnosis of the infected and its management has been improved; there is no cure yet, although there are vaccines approved in haste. The health crisis has exposed the lack of preparation of our health systems, resulting in political and economic crises, with impoverishment, death, and emotional and psychological complications. In these pages we continue writing in a summarized way the new knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease, its diagnosis, pathophysiology, symptomatic management and the severe disease, re-infection, its sequelae and lethality. But mainly how it affects the infected woman during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, as well as aspects of rooming in and breastfeeding. And what happens when the infection affects the newborn. The future of the mothers and children who suffered the infection remains to be known.
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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the positive rate of enterovirus (EV) nucleic acid in throat swabs of term late neonates hospitalized during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and the clinical characteristics of the neonates. METHODS: A single-center cross-sectional study was performed on 611 term late infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal center from October 2020 to September 2021. Throat swabs were collected on admission for coxsackie A16 virus/EV71/EV universal nucleic acid testing. According to the results of EV nucleic acid test, the infants were divided into a positive EV nucleic acid group (8 infants) and a negative EV nucleic acid group (603 infants). Clinical features were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 611 neonates, 8 tested positive for EV nucleic acid, with a positive rate of 13.1, among whom 7 were admitted from May to October. There was a significant difference in the proportion of infants contacting family members with respiratory infection symptoms before disease onset between the positive and negative EV nucleic acid groups (75.0% vs 10.9%, P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in demographic data, clinical symptoms, and laboratory test results (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a certain proportion of term late infants testing positive for EV nucleic acid in throat swabs during the COVID-19 epidemic, but the proportion is low. The clinical manifestations and laboratory test results of these infants are non-specific. Transmission among family members might be an important cause of neonatal EV infection.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Enterovirus Infections , Enterovirus , Nucleic Acids , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Humans , COVID-19/diagnosis , Cross-Sectional Studies , PharynxABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Family-centered rounds is recognized as a best practice for hospitalized children, but it has only been possible for children whose families can physically be at the bedside during hospital rounds. The use of telehealth to bring a family member virtually to the child's bedside during hospital rounds is a promising solution. We aim to evaluate the impact of virtual family-centered hospital rounds in the neonatal intensive care unit on parental and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: This two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial will randomize families of hospitalized infants to have the option to use telehealth for virtual hospital rounds (intervention) or usual care (control). The intervention-arm families will also have the option to participate in hospital rounds in-person or to not participate in hospital rounds. All eligible infants who are admitted to this single-site neonatal intensive care unit during the study period will be included. Eligibility requires that there be an English-proficient adult parent or guardian. We will measure participant-level outcome data to test the impact on family-centered rounds attendance, parent experience, family-centered care, parent activation, parent health-related quality of life, length of stay, breastmilk feeding, and neonatal growth. Additionally, we will conduct a mixed methods implementation evaluation using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. DISCUSSION: The findings from this trial will increase our understanding about virtual family-centered hospital rounds in the neonatal intensive care unit. The mixed methods implementation evaluation will enhance our understanding about the contextual factors that influence the implementation and rigorous evaluation of our intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05762835. Status: Not yet recruiting. First posted: March 10, 2023; last update posted: March 10, 2023.
Subject(s)
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Quality of Life , Infant, Newborn , Child , Infant , Adult , Humans , Parents , Family , Hospitals , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
Context: The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on a parturient undergoing cesarean delivery (CD) is not fully understood. Aims: To evaluate anesthetic management of a COVID parturient undergoing CD. Settings and Design: Tertiary care hospital, retrospective analysis. Methodology: Hospital case record files of COVID-19 parturients who underwent CD were reviewed with respect to clinical presentation, anesthetic technique, peri-operative course, and maternal-fetal outcome. Data Analysis: Continuous variables are reported as mean +/- SD or median (range) and categorical variables as numbers (percentages). Results: Hundred COVID-19 parturients underwent CD: Ninety-eight parturients had asymptomatic to mild clinical presentation, whereas two had a severe presentation. Raised liver enzymes, raised D-dimer, and thrombocytopenia were observed in 65, 34, and 11 parturients, respectively. Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA), subarachnoid block (SAB), and general anesthesia were administered in 72, 26, and 2 parturients, respectively. Meantime to administration of SAB and CSEA were 23.5 +/- 3.2 min and 28.4 +/- 2.8 min, respectively. Adequate block height for CD was achieved in all parturients. Post-spinal hypotension that responded promptly to fluids and vasopressors was reported in six parturients. Postoperatively, two parturients required intensive care unit (ICU) care with one maternal mortality. None of the neonates tested positive for COVID-19. Three neonates had a low Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration (APGAR) at 5 min with one neonatal mortality. Conclusions: Neuraxial anesthesia seems to be a safe and preferred anesthetic technique for CD in a COVID-19 parturient. The incidence of post-spinal hypotension is low and responds promptly to treatment. The course of neuraxial anesthesia and the neonatal outcome is unaffected by the COVID-19 status of the patient.
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For the extended duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reports emerged that mother-to-child transmission rates were low. However, the pandemic protocols including strict isolation, testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and negative pressure isolation remained in Korea. Recently, the guideline for the management of neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 have been revised based on guidelines in other countries. Here, we introduce this newly developed guideline and review the foreign guidelines that were used for reference.Copyright © 2022 The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
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Background: Pregnant women experience physiological changes that make them more susceptible to respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Given the potential impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy, it is crucial to continue to investigate the effect of the pandemic on pregnant women and their infants. This information will be important for informing for all the stakeholders including clinical care, and public health policies. Method(s): This study is a retrospective observational analytical study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at SMGS hospital, Jammu. The study included 180 pregnant females who reported to emergency Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1st April to 30 June 2020. The sample size of 180 patients was divided into two groups: Group 1 included 90 COVID-19 positive pregnant females and Group 2 included 90 COVID-19 negative pregnant females. Result(s): No significant differences were found in age, parity, gestational age, comorbidities, mode of delivery, maternal complications, neonatal Apgar scores, or birth weight. The prevalence of comorbidities and maternal complications was similar in both groups, and most neonates had normal Apgar scores and birth weights. Conclusion(s): Therefore, it is suggested that appropriate management and care should be provided to all pregnant women, regardless of their COVID-19 status, to minimize any potential adverse outcomes.Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
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Since the global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2020, the virus has been evolving through mutations to acquire enhanced infectivity but reduced virulence. With a wide vaccination coverage among Chinese population, China is entering a new stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection control. The Working Group for the Prevention and Control of Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Perinatal Period of the Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics released the first and second editions of perinatal and neonatal management plan for prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infection in January and March 2020, respectively. In order to follow up new prevention and control needs, it is necessary to update the management plan to better guide clinical practice. Therefore, the Working Group formulated the 3rd-edition plan.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pregnancy , Infant, Newborn , Female , Humans , Child , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics/prevention & control , China/epidemiology , VirulenceABSTRACT
We aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate and routine follow-up practices including immunization. A total of 62 neonates born to COVID-19 positive mothers and an equal number of neonates born to COVID-19 negative mothers were prospectively evaluated for EBF rate and routine neonatal follow-up practices including delay (>7 days) in routine immunization at 3 months follow-up. We further tried to compare the results across two epochs (epoch 1, March-June 2020 and epoch 2, July-November 2020). There was significantly lesser number of babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers on EBF at 3 months of age when compared with the control group (45.1% vs. 96.7%, p = 0.00) as well it was significantly lesser in epoch 1 when compared with epoch 2 (16% vs. 74%, p = 0.00). Further, a significantly higher number of babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers had their routine immunization delayed with no significant difference across the epochs. There was no significant difference in growth parameters between babies born to COVID-19 positive mother when compared with the control group as well as across the epochs. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the EBF rates as well as hampered the routine immunization practices among babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers. Although such practices got improved after the implementation of evidence-based national guidelines, but it is still much below when compared with those born to COVID-19 negative mother.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mothers , Infant , Female , Infant, Newborn , Humans , Breast Feeding , Follow-Up Studies , Pandemics , Tertiary Care Centers , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , ImmunizationABSTRACT
For the extended duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, reports emerged that mother-to-child transmission rates were low. However, the pandemic protocols including strict isolation, testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and negative pressure isolation remained in Korea. Recently, the guideline for the management of neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 have been revised based on guidelines in other countries. Here, we introduce this newly developed guideline and review the foreign guidelines that were used for reference. © 2022 The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
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Infection is a leading cause of death worldwide in babies under one month of age who are more susceptible to sepsis due to immature host defence mechanisms. Usually, babies may become acutely unwell from infective pathogens due to specific differences in their respiratory and immune systems. However, with the COVID-19 virus, the focus of this paper, it appears that the neonatal population is not significantly affected in the same way as adults. That said, knowledge about this novel virus is rapidly emerging. Therefore, it is vital that neonatal nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals are adequately informed and educated about the potential impact on neonatal practice. This review paper draws upon key findings and themes from a selection of recent literature to provide an overview of current knowledge on COVID-19 and the implications for care within the neonatal field. The discussion focuses on the nature of COVID-19, its pathophysiology and transmission relevant to maternal and neonatal care. This is followed by implications for practice; namely, maternal issues, the importance of human breast milk, neonatal care relating to parenting and specific management before a final review of the current World Health Organization guidance.
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Purpose. Assessment of regional oxygenation in neonates with anemic syndrome and after its correction. Materials and methods. The study included 76 neonates. Depending on the fact of the presence or absence of anemia, which required its correction, all included in the study infants were divided into 2 groups: with anemia - 8 patients and without it - 68 patients. Multiregional monitoring of tissue oxygenation was performed with the help of INVOS 5100C cerebral/somatic oximeter (Covidien, Medtronic, USA). Results and discussion. In comparison with infants with anemia, the comparison group had higher level of minimal cerebral oxygenation (73 [66;80] versus 56 [39;70], p=0.0447), and lower cFTOE values (0.17 [0.11;0.23] versus 0.35 [0,30;0,48], p=0,0021). It was also found that a newborn with RDS and cFTOE> 0.22 is 3.5 times more likely to have anemia, which requires PRBC transfusion. Correction of anemia was accompanied by the increase of hemoglobin level by 51 [36;56] g/l and hematocrit - by 16 [15;17] %. Moreover, only crSO2 and cFTOE showed the differences before and after transfusion: crSO2 before - 60 [55;69] and after - 65 [61;71], p=0.0156;cFTOE before - 0.40 [0.30;0.45] and after 0.34 [0.27;0.38], p=0.0078. Conclusion. Monitoring of regional oxygenation in neonates can be used for early diagnosis of oxygen imbalance in tissues on the background of development of anemia, and assessment of the effectiveness of its correction as well.Copyright © 2020, Professionalnye Izdaniya. All rights reserved.
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Over half of boys in the United States undergo circumcision, which has its greatest health benefits and lowest risks when performed during the newborn period under local anesthesia. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected delivery of patient care in many ways and likely also influenced the provision of newborn circumcisions. Prior to the pandemic, we planned to conduct a qualitative study to ascertain physician perspectives on providing newborn circumcision care. The interviews incidentally coincided with the onset of the pandemic and thus, pandemic-related changes emerged as a theme. We elected to analyze this theme in greater detail. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with perinatal physicians in a large urban city from 4/2020 to 7/2020. Physicians that perform or counsel regarding newborn circumcision and physicians with knowledge of or responsibility for hospital policies were eligible. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitative coding was performed. Twenty-three physicians from 11 local hospitals participated. Despite no specific COVID-19 related questions in the interview guide, nearly half of physicians identified that the pandemic affected delivery of newborn circumcision care with 8 pandemic-related sub-themes. The commonest sub-themes included COVID-19 related changes in: (1) workflow processes, (2) staffing and availability of circumcision proceduralists, and (3) procedural settings. In summary, this qualitative study revealed unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic-related changes with primarily adverse effects on the provision of desired newborn circumcisions. Some of these changes may become permanent resulting in broad implications for policy makers that will likely need to adapt and redesign the processes and systems for the delivery of newborn circumcision care.
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This study aimed to examine the relationship between maternal health during pregnancy and low birth weight (LBW), as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the socio-economic status of pregnant women and its effect on LBW. The study was conducted in Amman, Jordan, and included 2260 mothers who visited Abu-Nusair comprehensive health center between January and December 2020. A matched case-control design was used with 72 cases and 148 controls selected for data collection through medical records and face-to-face interviews. Results showed that factors such as a monthly income of 400 JD or less, living with an extended family, exposure to passive smoking, maternal weight gain of 6-10 kg, maternal anemia, maternal hypertension, delivery by cesarean section, and previous history of LBW newborns were positively associated with an increased risk of LBW. Conversely, factors such as a monthly income above 700 JD, living with a core family, daily intake of iron, calcium, and vitamin D, prenatal visits, healthy food intake, and planning for pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of LBW. COVID-19 infection and its effects on work, family finances, antenatal care visits, and food supply were also positively linked with LBW. In conclusion, socioeconomic status, maternal health, COVID-19, and its impacts were significant risk factors for LBW.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Maternal Health , Infant, Newborn , Female , Pregnancy , Humans , Case-Control Studies , Jordan/epidemiology , Cesarean Section , COVID-19/epidemiology , Infant, Low Birth Weight , Risk Factors , Birth WeightABSTRACT
Digestive symptoms have been reported in an important proportion of children with COVID-19, and the clinical expression of critical patients with COVID-19 is thought to result from progressive increase of inflammation and an unusual trend of hypercoagulation. We report a newborn received with abdominal distension, green vomiting and imaging suggestive for enterocolitis. He had a close contact with COVID-19 and the PCR for SARS-CoV-2 came back positive. Despite the supportive measures, his condition deteriorated and a surgery was decided. The surgical exploration found an ischemic bowel. The therapeutic measures were ineffective as the child passed away a few hours after surgery despite the resuscitation treatment performed. The confirmed enterocolitis happening within the period of acute infection by SARS-CoV-2, the NEC was likely a manifestation of COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Enterocolitis, Necrotizing , Enterocolitis , Infant, Newborn, Diseases , Male , Child , Infant, Newborn , Humans , Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/etiology , COVID-19/complications , SARS-CoV-2 , Enterocolitis/complicationsABSTRACT
Background: Breastfeeding experiences have altered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a strong determinant of the breastfeeding behaviour of women. We aimed to study breastfeeding self-efficacy and assess the perceived factors for breastfeeding hindrance in COVID-19 positive mothers in the postpartum period. Method: A facility based case-control study was conducted with 63 COVID-19 positive (cases) and 63 COVID-19 negative postnatal mothers (controls). A breastfeeding self-efficacy short form (BFSE SF) instrument measured Breastfeeding self-efficacy 24 to 48 hours post-delivery. Mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 were interviewed about perceived factors for breastfeeding hindrance. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used for maternal parameters. BFSE SF scores were compared by a t test. Results: The mean BFSE SF score of COVID-19 positive mothers was 53.14 which was significantly lower than the mean BFSE SF score of 56.52 of COVID-19 negative mothers (p=0.013). Mothers who had received postpartum breastfeeding advice had significantly higher BFSE SF mean scores (p= 0.031). Sixty-seven percentage of COVID-19 positive mothers reported fear of transmission of illness to the neonate as a hindering factor. Conclusions: Breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were significantly lower in COVID- 19 positive mothers. Higher breastfeeding self-efficacy scores were observed in mothers who had received postpartum breastfeeding advice. The fear of transmission of the COVID-19 illness to the neonate was perceived as a breastfeeding hindering factor in most of the mothers. These observations imply the need for professional lactation support programs.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mothers , Infant, Newborn , Female , Humans , Breast Feeding , Self Efficacy , Case-Control Studies , Pandemics , Postpartum PeriodABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 viremia is associated with increased acute lung injury (ALI) and mortality in children and adults. The mechanisms by which viral components in the circulation mediate ALI in COVID-19 remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein induces Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated ALI and lung remodeling in a model of neonatal COVID-19. Neonatal C57BL6 mice given intraperitoneal E protein injections revealed a dose-dependent increase in lung cytokines [interleukin 6 (Il6), tumor necrosis factor (Tnfα), and interleukin 1 beta (Il1ß)] and canonical proinflammatory TLR signaling. Systemic E protein induced endothelial immune activation, immune cell influx, and TGFß signaling and lung matrix remodeling inhibited alveolarization in the developing lung. E protein-mediated ALI and transforming growth factor beta (TGFß) signaling was repressed in Tlr2-/-, but not Tlr4-/- mice. A single dose of intraperitoneal E protein injection induced chronic alveolar remodeling as evidenced by a decrease in radial alveolar counts and increase in mean linear intercepts. Ciclesonide, a synthetic glucocorticoid, inhibited E protein-induced proinflammatory TLR signaling and ALI. In vitro, E protein-mediated inflammation and cell death were TLR2-dependent in human primary neonatal lung endothelial cells and were rescued by ciclesonide. This study provides insight into the pathogenesis of ALI and alveolar remodeling with SARS-CoV-2 viremia in children, whereas revealing the efficacy of steroids.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We reveal that the envelope protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates acute lung injury (ALI) and alveolar remodeling through Toll-like receptor activation, which is rescued by the glucocorticoid, ciclesonide.