The Impact of COVID-19 on Pregnancy: A Mini-review
Wael A. Alsaleh *
King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nour I. Alsultan
King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Rania Daef
King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Corona virus disease (COVID-19) has become a research priority since first reported case in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Pregnant women and fetuses represent a vulnerable group for which the disease may have effects not applicable to the general population. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the association between COVID-19 and pregnancy in terms of the clinical manifestations, maternal and fetal outcomes, and the possibility of vertical transmission of the disease.
Methodology: Articles addressing the impact of COVID-19 during the perinatal period were obtained mainly from PubMed database. Most of the studies of a systematic review or meta-analysis used in the current study were published in the current year 2021.
Results: The present study discussed different issues. First, clinical manifestations were not different from the general population with fever and cough being the most common symptoms; while the course of the disease was milder in general compared to general population. Regarding vertical transmission, the current literature did not provide evidence supporting the transmission of SARS-Cov-2 to the fetus; although, there were few cases reported which do not exceed 4%.
Conclusion: In general, the clinical course and outcomes of COVID-19 do not greatly differ from the normal population. Cesarean section and premature birth were reported with no evidence of the presence of the novel coronavirus in the amniotic fluid nor the breast milk.
Keywords: Cesarian section, clinical outcome, fetus, prematurity, SARS-CoV-2, vertical transmission