Impact of COVID-19 Infection During Pregnancy on Maternal and Fetal Outcome

COVID-19, caused by SARS-COV-2, was first reported in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China, at the end of December 2019. The exact origin of human infection has not yet been clearly identified.SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the Coronavirus family, and other pathogens from this family have inflicted a range of viral infections, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The incubation period varies from 2 days to 2 weeks following exposure to the virus.The global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been growing at an accelerating rate. The increasing mortality rate warrants identification and protection of the vulnerable populations in society.It is well known that pregnancy-related immune suppression makes mothers more vulnerable than non-pregnant women to several viral infections, including SARS-COV, hepatitis E virus, influenza, and herpes simplex virus.

Furthermore, changes in pulmonary function during pregnancy, including decreased total lung capacity and functional residual capacity, may cause susceptibility to viral pneumonia.

Data on clinical outcomes of pregnant women suffering from COVID-19 are therefore relatively scarce. Recently a meta-analysis of 13 publications reported preterm births, neonatal pneumonia, and respiratory distress syndrome in infants born of COVID-19-positive mothers. The rates of cesarean deliveries and adverse pregnancy outcomes were substantially higher