FETOMATERNAL OUTCOME IN COVID 19 POSITIVE PREGNANCIES-A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background: WHO has declared COVID-19 infection as a health emergency of international concern on 11thMarch, 2020. It is not clear whether clinical characteristics of pregnant women with COVID-19 differ from those of nonpregnant women and whether it aggravates COVID-19 symptoms and whether antiviral therapy is necessary for COVID-19 infected pregnant women. Methods: This is a prospective study of 47 cases based on the compiled clinical data for pregnant women with COVID-19 from April 2020 to October 2020. A laboratory confirmed positive case of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women were included. Results: In the study involving 47 pregnant patients with covid-19 infection, 38(81%) had cough, 20(42.5%) reported fever, 12(25.5%) had diarrhea, followed by 10(21%), 8(17%) and 3(6%) experienced sore throat,myalgia and dyspnea,respectively. 9(19%) out of 47 were asymptomatic and were tested in view of strong history of contact with covid infected patients. With 32 of 47 (68%) delivered through LSCS for obstetric indication and 15(32%) delivered vaginally.40 (85%) patients were of term gestation and 7(15%) were from preterm gestational age. Conclusions: At present, there is no evidence regarding the greater risk of pregnant women to succumb to COVID-19 infection and experience severe pneumonia. This preliminary study however does not rule out the possibility of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV- 2 when it manifests towards the end of pregnancy. Keywords: COVID-19, Pregnancy, Pandemic.