Coronavirus infection and pregnancy. What do we know so far?

Abstract

Abstract

The outbreak caused by the new coronavirus infection, called COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease, 2019), officially named by the World Health Organization, since march 2020, finds itself still spreading very fast. Despite having no evidences in relation to the predisposition to the sickness, or to a greater number of complications, in cases of COVID-19 in pregnant and puerperal women, the immunological and physiological alterations in motherhood, such as change in cellular immunity and pulmonary functions, which affect the susceptibility and the clinical danger of pneumonia, which turn pregnant and puerperal women into a risk group for COVID-19. There is no assurance that the new coronavirus is directly related to congenital malformations, although previous data, related to clinical findings during pregnancy can vary from the lack of symptoms, to grave sickness, and death. Thus, it is strongly advised that pregnant women perform the recommended methods to preventing the disease. COVID-19 was associated to premature rupture of membranes in preterm labor, fetal tachycardia, intrauterine hypoxia, fetal death and a high number of C-sections. The laboratorial diagnosis in pregnant women follows the same orientation as non-pregnant women, and the decision of the way of giving birth in pregnant women with COVID-19 takes in account the clinical motherhood characteristics and fetal ones, instead of taking in account only the existence of the infection. Currently, no antiviral or immunotherapeutic agent is available for COVID-19 treatment, except in research protocols. The treatment with dexamethasone, in admitted patients, also applies to pregnant women. We are faced with a new disease, that still has no vaccine or a defined treatment. This compilation was based on what’s newest on databases, until the end of the confection of this report.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Coronavirus, Disease Prevention.