Women’s Diseases, Obstetrics and IVF Specialist Assoc. Dr. Deniz Ulaş gave valuable information about the subject. The cause of COVID-19, which started in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread all over the world, is the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus. SARS virus is from the coronavirus family, such as MERS, HCoV 229, NL63, which causes the common cold. This virus that causes COVID-19 is also called “SARS-CoV-2” or “New coronavirus”. The effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy and childbirth during pregnancy and the ways of protection from COVID-19 are as follows;
What is COVID-19?
The infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is called COVID-19. The only difference from other viruses that cause colds is that its contagiousness and lethality are higher. However, its lethality is lower than other coronaviruses (MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV) that caused epidemics before. While the lethality of the new coronavirus is 3-4%, it is 10% for SARS-CoV and 37% for MERS-CoV. To date (06-04-2010), a total of 69000 people died worldwide due to COVID-19. Italy and Spain have the highest death toll, while the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Turkey is 574.
What Are the Symptoms of COVID-19?
In the midst of COVID-19 symptoms, fever, dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle pain are symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. The most common symptom is fever. Fever is present in 90% of hospitalized patients. However, it should not be forgotten that 10% of patients may not have fever. Cough is also one of the most common symptoms. In severe cases, there may be symptoms of kidney failure, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. However, it should be noted that COVID-19 may not cause any symptoms. However, it should be noted that the patient may be carrying the virus without any symptoms of COVID-19. How is COVID-19 transmitted? Who are at risk ? For all information, it is located on the drdenizulascom site.
How Does COVID 19 Look During Pregnancy?
Since the number of pregnant women with coronavirus is very small, there is currently no clear information about the course of COVID-19 during pregnancy. However, it has been shown in studies that SARS and MERS infections, which are the same family, are more severe during pregnancy. From this perspective, it is predicted that the new coronavirus infection may be more severe during pregnancy. However, in order to provide more accurate information about this bet, the number of events should increase.
Is the New Coronavirus Transmitted to the Baby During Pregnancy?
Since the incidence of pregnant with Corona is very low, there is no clear information about this issue. However, it is unlikely that it can be transmitted from mother to baby by placental route in the womb. In studies conducted in China, no coronavirus could be detected in samples taken from amniotic fluid, cord blood, throat of newborn baby and breast milk of pregnant women with COVID-19.
Does Coronovirus Have Any Effect on Baby?
For now, there is no information showing that coronavirus has a negative effect on the development of the baby. However, since the number of cases is low, it is difficult to be sure about this issue. Although it is stated in some publications that it causes premature birth, miscarriage, growth retardation in the baby or fetal distress, there is not enough data for definitive information at this time.
Does New Coronovirus Infection Affect Birth?
No. Coronavirus infection does not affect the state of birth. Caesarean section should be performed if medically necessary. In addition, studies have shown that there is no transmission to the baby by vaginal secretions during normal delivery. So far, 32 pregnant women with COVID-19 have been reported in the literature. Premature delivery was observed in 15 (47%) of 32 patients. Of the 32 COVID-19 positive pregnant women, 27 gave birth by cesarean section and 2 delivered vaginally.
Can a Mother With Corona Virus Breastfeed Her Baby?
There is currently no evidence of transmission of the virus to the infant through breast milk. If it is transmitted from mother to baby, it is thought that it can be transmitted through droplets as a result of close contact. However, when the profit and loss rate is considered; Since the benefit of breast milk to the baby is greater than the risk of transmission of the coronavirus to the baby, it is recommended that a mother with COVID-19 continue to breastfeed her baby. In case of very severe illness, breastfeeding may be discontinued. However, in this case, it is recommended to express the milk with breast pumps and give breast milk to the baby.
However, attention should be paid to the following issues during breastfeeding;
Definitely wash your hands before breastfeeding
Use a mask
If a breastfeeding pump is used, the pumps must be properly cleaned
How to Treat COVID-19 in Pregnancy?
There is no definitive treatment for the disease now, but studies are continuing on whether drugs such as remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir are effective in the treatment of COVID-19. In our country, the Ministry of Health has published an algorithm for the treatment of COVID-19. According to this algorithm, it is recommended that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir treatment be used in the treatment of COVID-19. The treatment of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 is one-to-one with those who are not pregnant. Only the follow-up and treatment of positive pregnant women with COVID-19, and delivery if necessary, should be done in 3rd level hospitals. A perinatologist, newborn specialist, heavy care specialist, infectious diseases specialist and obstetric anesthesiologist should also be present in the hospital. It is recommended that the follow-up and treatment be done in negative pressure isolation rooms. COVID-19 treatment in pregnancy; control of the infection, oxygen therapy, avoidance of excessive fluid overload, empirical antibiotics, monitoring of the baby’s heart sounds and pain, mechanical ventilation if necessary, and accurate timing of delivery.
Is There a COVID-19 Vaccine?
There is now no vaccine developed against the coronavirus that protects against COVID-19. Studies on the development of the COVID-19 vaccine continue. The vaccine is expected to be released in the coming months.
