Introduction:
In December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China. It has now spread in many countries. Pregnant women are thought to be more prone to susceptible population of COVID-19 which are more likely to have complications and even progress to severe illness. Coronaviruses cause variety of respiratory tract illness from the common cold to pneumonia and death. The usual presentation is with fever, weakness, anosmia, cough, myalgia, headache, and diarrhea and constipation. Overall case fatality rate appears to be 1%. Person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 is thought to be similar to transmission of influenza and other respiratory infections; by direct contact, indirect contact and droplets.1
Study of outcome of COVID positive pregnant patients compared to non-COVID pregnant patients are still rare. The World is yet in shadow whether COVID-19 positive pregnant patients has different symptoms than other pregnant patients, whether pregnancy and parturition adversely affect the infection and what will be their proper regimen of antiviral medication.
Bangladesh reported its first case of confirmed COVID-19 positive on 8th March 2020 and first death confirmed COVID-19 on 18th March. We had a quick increase in confirmed cases during that time in comparison to India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. 2
According to the Royal College of obstetricians and gynecologist (RCOG), pregnant women rarely contract the COVID-19 infection than the general population.3 If a pregnant women is infected with viruses from the same family as the SARS CoV-2 virus and from other respiratory tract viruses, it may manifest a more severe illness, it is stated by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC).4 Due to altered immunity during pregnancy , it is assumed that Corona virus infection may lead to more severe symptoms. These findings of increased severity of clinical manifestations in pregnancy are more prominent towards the end of pregnancy. Hence, COVID-19 positive may potentially develop more severe symptoms such as pneumonia and marked hypoxia. Such type of severe infection may develop in elderly, immunosuppressed or have existing morbidity such as diabetes, cancer or chronic lung disease patients. However, the RCOG guidelines have contrastingly reported that the absolute risk of this is low.5
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations and fetomaternal outcome of pregnant women infected with COVID-19, monitor for changes before and after delivery, and provide some initial evidence for highlighting the management of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection.