Covid19 and Pregnancy

Abstract

Abstract Introdution: The Novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) is a new strain of coronavirus causing Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan City of China and eventually was declared as a pandemic by the WHO on 11 March 2020. It has reached 210 countries and territories with more than three million cases and over 2,00,000 deaths . As of 27th of April in Egypt there are about 4782 cases with 337 deaths and 1236 recovered cases, In India there are 28,380 cases with 886 deaths and 6523 recovered cases. With this pandemic assuming a crisis of global proportions unprecedented in recent times and presenting a challenge in its control and management it will be inevitable that we will be seeing women infected with COVID-19 in pregnancy as they are proportion of this population. Unlike many of the other specialists obstetricians face the situation that matters related to childbirth cannot be delayed indefinitely. The maternity healthcare providers and facilities hence need to prepare for the situation with a view to prevent the consequences of the infection on the mother and her new-born. The article reviews the clinical features, testing criteria, preventive aspects, effects of the infection on mother and the foetus, the current management options including the general measures, pharmacological options, preparedness of the institutions, antenatal management, intrapartum and post-partum management in these patients in the light of available evidences Conclusion : The COVID 19 virus is a new strain of corona virus, little is known today about its effect on the outcome of pregnancy. Further clinical and research data are awaited for better understanding of any morbid effect of this new strain and its health hazards on both the mother and neonates.