Asymptomatic COVID-19 Infection in Pregnancy: Underlying Threat in Refugees' Camps in Greece
Authors/Creators
- 1. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alexandra hospital, Athens, Greece
Description
Abstract
Background: This study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of asymptomatic pregnant women COVID-19 infection, evaluate the maternal outcome and identify high risk of transmission in refugees’ camps in Greece.
Cases: Two asymptomatic pregnant woman, both living in different refugees’ camps in Greece, were enrolled in this study. They have been treated by our institution as urgent cases and were given delivery. Clinical data including laboratory test results were collected and reviewed. Diagnosis of COVID-19 infection was made in both cases after delivery based on secondary symptoms. None of the puerperas was administered antiviral therapy. The first puerpera was discharged after two consecutive negative throat swab tests and after 14 days of in hospital quarantine and the second was transferred to referral hospital for COVID-19 two days after delivery
Conclusion: Further concern should be taken into account in order to help effectively refugees’ pregnant women during this pandemic, focusing on early detection of the affected cases.
Introduction
In December 2019, a pneumonia caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province ana since an epidemic infection has spread rapidly to different areas of China and other parts of the world [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced SARS-CoV-2 as the cause of pneumonia on January 9, 2020, and declared the virus outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [2]. The SARS-CoV-2 causes a clinical syndrome designated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) with a spectrum of manifestations ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection to severe pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. As of May 5, 2020, more than 2.450.000 cases have been reported worldwide leading to death more than 244000 patients [3].
One of the most important ways of viral transmission is the individuals contact in hospitals, inside families, and other crowded places, especially when infected patients remain asymptomatic [4]. Therefore, specific guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies when infection with a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is suspected should be followed [5]. Pregnant women are usually considered a high-risk group for viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, due to their lowered immune response and the effects of SARS on the fetus [6]. In this study, we reported two cases of asymptomatic pregnant woman with COVID-19, refugees from Cameroun and PR of the Congo.
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- Journal article: https://www.boffinaccess.com/clinical-and-medical-cases/asymptomatic-covid-19-3-159 (URL)
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