Pre and post-natal epidemiological and clinical features of neonates born from mothers infected with COVID-19 and 14-day follow-up post discharge in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Objective: To describe prenatal and post-natal clinical features of neonates born from mothers with COVID-19 including 14-day follow-up post discharge. Methods: Case series of neonates attended at Hospital Guillermo Almenara born from mothers infected with COVID-19 during the lockdown implemented by the Peruvian government. Neonates were divided in two groups based on positivity of the nasopharyngeal PCR test. Results: 201 pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosed by rapid tests who delivered 206 neonates were identified; 4 of these neonates had positive nasopharyngeal PCR tests. Pregnants infected with COVID-19 were younger than non-infected, but no differences were observed in route of delivery, sex of the newborn and body weight at birth. Two hundred and five neonates were discharged one week after birth ;181 neonates with negative nasopharyngeal negative PCR tests and 4 neonates with a positive PCR test were followed for 14 days, none presented symptoms and received mixed lactation. Conclusions: Neonates born from mother infected with COVID-19 had minimal risk of getting the infection and their pre and post-natal development will not be affected despite of having a positive PCR test.