Interesting case of dyspnea during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Dyspnea in pregnancy may be due to causes other than COVID-19 infection also and these should not be ignored. Various causes include exacerbation of asthma, cardiac illnesses, severe anaemia etc. Complication risk depends on type and severity of the underlying pathology. Mitral stenosis (MS) is the most common acquired valvular heart disease seen in pregnant women and is mostly rheumatic in origin. We report a case of 29-year-old female with 38 weeks gestation who presented with complain of shortness of breath and coughing for one week. She was diagnosed as case of severe mitral stenosis and moderate pulmonary hypertension with congestive heart failure (NYHA IV). This case highlights the importance to rule out the other causes of dyspnea like severe anemia and cardiac diseases even in patients with suspicion of COVID-19 infection. All respiratory symptoms should not be ascribed to COVID-19 infection and proper evaluation of patients should be conducted.