Severe COVID-19 infection suggests new studies that appear rare in newborns

The UK-wide analysis, led by researchers at the Nafield Department of Population and Health at Imperial College London and Oxford University, is the first study to analyze COVID-19 infection in newborns across the UK.

Studies published in the journal Lancet’s Child and Adolescent HealthFollowed all babies under 29 days at COVID-19 throughout the UK. These babies had to be hospitalized.

An analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health tracked these babies with COVID-19 between the beginning of March and the end of April, the peak of the first wave of the UK COVID-19 pandemic. .. Infants were tracked using a national system called the British Pediatric Surveillance Unit, which is contributed by all UK pediatricians.

The study found that 66 infants required hospital treatment for COVID-19 infection during this period. That’s one in 1785 births, or 0.06 percent of births.

Almost half (45%) of infants with severe infections came from blacks, Asians, or minorities. About one in four babies (24 percent) gave birth prematurely (defined as being born 37 weeks ago). Both of these are higher than expected from the UK’s birth population.

Of the 66 newborns surveyed, only 17 were suspected of being infected with COVID-19 by their mother during the first 7 days of life. Seven of these 17 babies developed COVID-19, even though they were separated from their mother shortly after birth. This is UK and international to keep the mother and baby together even if the mother is suspected of being infected with COVID-19 or if the mother is known to be infected with COVID-19. The team states that it supports good guidance. Six babies were thought to have been infected with COVID-19 during hospitalization.

None of the babies in the group died of COVID-19 (one baby died sadly, but this was not associated with COVID-19 infection).

Analysis of the data revealed that nearly 90% of babies were completely recovered from the infection and were discharged.

This study suggests that the proportion of newborns who develop severe illness requires intensive care or respiratory assistance (36%) compared to older children (13%). However, the authors of the study add that severe infections in newborns are still very rare.

Overall, the researchers add that the study suggests a small proportion of babies who have caught COVID-19 from their mothers. In light of this, they explain that if a mother tests positive for COVID-19, she does not need to wean her baby at birth. They add that seven babies isolated from their mothers at birth in the current study are still infected with the virus.

Dr. Chris Gayle, co-author of the Imperial School of Public Health, said: “Parents and pregnant parents are, of course, worried that their baby will be infected with COVID-19. This study suggests that severe COVID-19 infection in newborns is extremely rare. I hope that you will have some relief because you are. Most babies develop mild symptoms when infected with the virus and recover completely. This study also shows that mothers have COVID. -19 Supports UK and international guidance for keeping mothers and babies together, even if they are known or suspected of being infected. “

Dr. Gail said: .. “

The team says urgent investigation is needed to understand why many babies hospitalized with severe COVID-19 are from blacks, Asians, or ethnic minorities.

Professor Jenny Kurinczuk, co-author of the Nuffield Department of Population Health at Oxford University, said: “Similar to recent studies on pregnant women and the general population of COVID-19, babies are from blacks, Asians and ethnic minorities and clearly need further investigation. But in the meantime, parents are the first in the pandemic. Even the waves may give some relief to the serious COVID-19 infection, which was rare in babies in the BAME community. “

The study suspected that 17 babies had caught the infection from their mothers, and found that two of these babies may have been infected with COVID-19 in utero. ..

The main symptoms of COVID-19 infection in infants in this study included high temperature, poor eating, vomiting, runny nose, cough, and lethargy.