Study neonate’s complications in COVID-19 infected pregnant women in early period of pandemic in Ardabil province, Iran

Abstract

Background: Pregnant women and neonates are considered as high-risk groups of population. Due to higher risk of COVID-19 in pregnant women, the aim of this study was to determine neonates' complications in COVID-19 infected pregnant women in early period of pandemic in Ardabil province. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 21 infected pregnant women and their neonates from Feb to June 2020 in Alavi Hospital, Ardabil. Mother’s clinical and laboratory findings and their neonates were registered in a checklist. Neonates’ complications were assessed and infants 'growth and developmental disorders followed up at 28 days, 6 months, and 12 months. Collected data were analysed by statistical methods in SPSS version 24. Results: In terms of clinical symptoms, the most prevalence symptoms were shortness of breath, fever, chills and dry cough. 15 infected mothers had a cesarean section and there was no maternal and neonatal mortality in this study. Of the 21 neonates, 13 were boys and 8 girls. Five neonates had respiratory distress and were admitted to the intensive care unit for 1 week. In these 5 neonates, arterial pH was low and neonatal CRP was high and the blood culture was negative for them. Also, all neonates were negative for COVID-19. None of the newborns had problems with feeding and poor reflexes and other symptoms. All newborns had negative PCR. 19 neonates were born over 2500 grams. Conclusions: Results showed that suffering to COVID-19 had not relation with growth disorder in neonates and mother's clinical symptoms had not different with other symptoms. So we can use similar investigations to control of COVID-19 in all pregnant women. Also, COVID-19 infection in newborns was not associated with growth and developmental disorders in 1 year fallow up.