Noting that Covid-19 infection causes concerns in families in terms of the health of both mother and baby, Medical Park Çanakkale Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Op. Dr. Levent Özçer said, "As a result of the researches, it was determined that approximately 87,9 percent of pregnant women who were delivered with Covid-positive had the disease asymptomatic (without symptoms), while 12.1 percent could be symptomatic," he said.
Stating that Covid-19 infection is known to be more severe in elderly people and individuals with chronic diseases, Medical Park Çanakkale Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Op. Dr. Levent Özçer said that Covid-19 infection in pregnant women may cause clinical symptoms in the form of mild symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, fatigue, as well as severe symptoms such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, kidney failure, and multiple organ failure that require advanced intensive care.
Less fever and cough in pregnant women with Covid
Noting that pregnant women with Covid had less symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath than non-pregnant Covid patients, Op. Dr. Levent Özçer shared the following information:
“As a result of the researches, it has been shown that approximately 87,9 percent of pregnant women who give birth with Covid positive are asymptomatic, while 12.1 percent can be symptomatic. The severity of symptoms of pregnant women in asymptomatic cases were similar to those in non-pregnant women. Pregnant women are more prone to respiratory tract infections due to some suppression of the maternal immune system during pregnancy, edema in the respiratory mucosa, elevation of the diaphragm, and high oxygen consumption, but when we look at the current data, no significant difference was found in terms of clinical course of Covid-19 infection in pregnant women compared to the normal population.
If necessary, lung tomography can be performed.
Underlining that Covid-19 virus can be detected with 'reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)' in swab taken from the nose or mouth and pharynx regions, Op. Dr. Levent Özçer said, “If possible, it is more likely to detect the virus with samples taken from the lower respiratory tract. Serological tests such as ELISA or rapid antibody tests that detect IgM / IgG are diagnostic methods used other than RT-PCR, ”he said.
Stating that lung radiography and low-dose lung tomography can be used in cases where it is deemed necessary to evaluate lung findings in pregnant women. Dr. Levent Özçer stated that both methods can be used in pregnancy by protecting the west with lead plates.
Emphasizing that 85 percent of pregnant women may have pulmonary findings in the acute period, and in non-severe cases, no findings may be found in tomography, Op. Dr. Levent Özçer stated that in suspicious cases with negative RT-PCR tests, it should not be forgotten that findings suggesting Covid-19 infection in tomography may also be found in other viral infections. Kiss. Dr. Özçer suggested that differential diagnosis should be made against diseases manifested by lung tomography findings similar to those in Covid-19 infection.
There is no evidence that the risk of miscarriage is increased
Stating that the data is insufficient due to the fact that the disease is very new and the literature on the subject is limited, Op. Dr. Levent Özçer said, “There is no evidence that miscarriage or early pregnancy loss increases in pregnant women with Covid-19. The fact that SARS and MERS infections are not associated with complications such as miscarriage and early pregnancy loss strengthens this hypothesis, ”he said.
Cesarean delivery may be delayed if the baby's condition is suitable
Kiss. Dr. Levent Özçer shared the following information on how to follow the pregnant women who are known to be Covid-19 positive when cesarean delivery is planned:
“In this patient group, if the condition of the baby in the womb does not constitute an obstacle for delaying the birth and if the birth can be safely postponed, the delivery should be postponed to an appropriate time considering the contagiousness of the patient to the healthcare personnel during or after the birth and to the baby in the postnatal period. However, if the specified factors do not allow the birth to be delayed, the necessary protective measures should be provided and the birth should be performed ”.
Covid patient if the pain of the pregnant woman comes
Stating that the follow-up of suspected or diagnosed Covid-19 pregnant women will differ, Op. Dr. Levent Özçer said the following:
“Suspected or possible cases should be followed up in isolated rooms, and confirmed cases in negative pressure rooms, and this treatment should be done in tertiary hospitals. Negative pressure rooms in intensive care units can be used for patients who are critical in such cases, since the number of negative pressure rooms is low in many healthcare institutions. In case of suspected Covid cases presenting with complaints of pain, the patient should be taken to an isolated room and the presence and severity of Covid symptoms should be evaluated multidisciplinary, including the infection specialist. In such cases, the mother's temperature measurement, minute respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation should be followed. The fetus should be followed by continuous electronic fetal monitoring. If active labor has begun, if possible, the patient should be followed up in the same isolated room. However, even if it is understood that the patient is not in active labor during follow-up, the patient can be sent home with recommendations. "
Pregnancy follow-ups should not be interrupted
Underlining that the follow-up and treatment of a pregnant woman in an acute illness period is similar to those who are not pregnant, Op. Dr. Levent Özçer said, "However, although a significant effect of Covid-19 on the fetus has not been shown so far, the natural course of the disease and its effects on pregnancy are not yet fully known."
Kiss. Dr. Özçer ended his words by drawing attention to the fact that pregnancy follow-up is important for the health of both the mother and the child during the coronavirus epidemic and that the controls should not be disrupted by taking the necessary precautions.
Be the first to comment