Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Possibility of Pregnancy and Vertical Transmission, our Experience at Zonal Military Hospital Jammu

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide and is now a global pandemic. One of the major concerns is whether COVID-19 can be vertically transmitted from mothers to their fetuses thus causing congenital infection. In this study, investigation was done to determine the possibility of vertical transmission. Method: Study included 64 COVID-19 infected pregnant women in third trimester who had given birth. For neonates born to mother with COVID-19 infection, nasopharyngeal Swab was collected within 24 hrs of birth and sent for COVID-19 RNA reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Result: Study included 64 pregnant COVID 19 positive patients and 64 neonates born to infected mothers were reviewed. The most common symptoms included fever and dry cough in COVID 19 infected mothers. Overall 64 neonates were tested for the possibility of vertical transmission, 61 neonates were negative in RT-PCR, while 3 were positive.10 mothers reported having fever, 5 mothers reported having fever and dry cough, and 49 mothers were asymptomatic. Oxygen saturation was normal in symptomatic and asymptomatic mothers and main laboratory findings included leukocytosis, lymphopenia and elevated C- reactive protein. Three COVID-19 RT PCR positive babies were asymptomatic. Conclusion: Although the possibility of vertical transmission in COVID-19 infected pregnant women is rare, three neonates test results for COVID-19 infection were positive in this study.