పీడియాట్రిక్స్ & థెరప్యూటిక్స్
అందరికి ప్రవేశం

నైరూప్య

Management of 19 days old Newborn with COVID-19

Mahmoud El-Said El-Naggar*, Mohamed Nidal Al-Sibai, Riyad Ghazi Ahmad and Alaa Al Hazmi

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect the newborn like other age groups, but usually, symptoms will be mild and nonspecific. Real-Time- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR can do confirmation of the disease) for COVID-19 for a nasopharyngeal swab.

Case report: 19 days old newborn was infected from his mother. He was suffering from mild symptoms in the form of fever, cough, and vomiting. Admitted in an isolation room in NICU, the disease was confirmed by RT-PCR for COVID-19 for a nasopharyngeal swab, routine investigations to roll out sepsis done, chest lesions was diagnosed by CXR and lung ultrasound then followed up by lung ultrasound. The baby received supportive therapy, antibiotic and antiviral medications. Improved clinically and radiologically after 5 days of admission. The nasopharyngeal swab was twice negative before discharge. The baby has seen twice in the neonatal follow-up clinic after discharge he was clinically very well.

Background: This is a case report of the first reported neonate infected with COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. We are adding to the already available information that; neonates can acquire COVID-19 after birth and their immature immune system leaves them vulnerable to severe respiratory viral infections, which may cause severe disease among neonates, especially preterm. Compared with adults, children with severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) infections have milder clinical symptoms and fewer laboratory and radiologic abnormalities. Lung ultrasound is a new tool for detecting lung diseases in clinical practice and exhibits high sensitivity and specificity, while its feasibility and convenience as a bedside application in NICU add further appeal.

Conclusion: If the newborn suffers from symptoms that are likely to be suggestive with COVID-19 infection, we should take a nasopharyngeal swab for confirmation of infection. Lung ultrasound is a safe examination for diagnosis and follows up the lung lesions of the affected newborn without exposure to unnecessary radiation.COVID-19 symptomatic newborn needs to be admitted in a negative pressure isolation room in NICU by taking into consideration all necessary infection control measures, receive supportive therapy, and psychosocial support for the family