Clinical and epidemiological features of newborns with COVID-19: Case series

Abstract

Background:

Newborns (less than 28 days) are a particularly vulnerable population, data on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in this age group has not been extensively studied, so it is necessary to investigate its clinical and epidemiological characterization.

Objective:

To describe the clinical and epidemiological features in neonate series admitted, with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the provincial neonatology service at Camilo Cienfuegos General Provincial Hospital, between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022.

Methodology:

A case series study was conducted in neonates admitted with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the provincial neonatology service. 111 cases of newborns with positive result in the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples were included. The main variables were origin, epidemiological classification, sex, gestational age and birth weight, symptoms presented, days of stay during admission, health changes, patient status, use of antibiotics and complementary tests performed.

Results:

Community origin, suspicious newborn, male sex, condition of being born at term having good weight, asymptomatic form, isolation stay between 5 and 10 days prevailed. The alterations seen were pneumonia, non-focal sepsis, supraventricular tachycardia and dilated cardiomyopathy, patient's state of care, the non-use of antibiotics, alterations in the leukogram, blood gases, chest x-ray and echocardiogram, there were no any deceased.

Conclusions:

The evolution of newborns with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was satisfactory, no deaths occurred. Asymptomatic manifestation and patient´s epidemiological record should be considered for the early diagnosis of disease.