The Clinical Features and Outcomes of Four Neonates Born to Mothers with a Severe Form of COVID-19 and a Positive RT-PCR for SARS Co-V2 in Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital in Cameroon

Abstract

Background: A novel viral respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is responsible for a worldwide pandemic. The effects of this new disease in pregnant women and newborns are actually not well known. Methods: We investigated the clinical features and outcomes of four neonates born to mothers with a severe form of COVID-19 and a positive RT-PCR for SARS Co-V2 in Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (Cameroon) from April 20 to June 5, 2020. Results: All four mothers were symptomatic and had a positive RT-PCR for SARS CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal swab on admission. All of them delivered prematurely through cesarean section because of severe respiratory distress and one died shortly after delivery. The four premature male infants were born between 30 weeks and 35 weeks 2 days of gestation and had birth weights ranging from 1090 g to 2950 g. All infants had 1-minute Apgar scores that ranged from 7 to 8 and 5-minute Apgar scores varying between 8 and 9.