PREGNANCY RISKS MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Abdifatah Mohamed Nuh, Yan You and Min Ma* Ph.D.

ABSTRACT

In late December 2019, a series of novel corona virus isolates have been found from human being presenting with unexplained pneumonia in Wuhan China and officially named as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2. This virus causes Corona Virus Disease 2019 has raised concerns in the community about the potential risks to the maternal health and the optimal management of the pregnant women, fetus and neonate, as well as the care providers in the neonatal period. At present, evidences for viral vertical transmission from mother to fetus or from mother to neonate is obscure and are based on few case sample sizes and case reports. In this review we discuss the available knowledge on mother to child transmission, clinical outcomes, and the concerns about imaging modalities to diagnose pneumonia. Unlike in SARS and MERS outbreaks of corona viruses where by significant worse maternal outcomes were reported in pregnant women affected compared with non-affected pregnant women, reported data suggest that outcome is similar among COVID-19 pregnant women and unaffected. As the global pandemic continues and knowledge expands regarding this outbreak, additional information and scientific evidences will be available on clinical characteristics, potential effects of SARS-Cov-2 on pregnant women, and to their neonates.

Keywords: SARS-Cov-2, COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, pregnancy, SARS, MERS, Vertical Transmission, Outcome.