Clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 in newborns: a systematic review
Meltem Karabay, Nursan Çınar, Özge Karakaya Suzan, Sinem Yalnızoğlu Çaka, Oğuz Karabay
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Aim of this systematic review is to investigate the available evidence describing neonatal outcomes in newborns who have SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to guide prevention of COVID-19 in newborns. METHODS: reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or serological. The primary outcomes were Neonatal clinical outcomes. The methodological quality of the studies was appraised using appropriate tools. Strength of the body of evidence was assessed according to the quality assessment tool for quantitative studies (QATQS). RESULTS: The electronic search identified 1051 records that were examined, after evaluating 35 of them were included in the study. Seven studies were research articles and twenty-eight were case reports. Methodological quality was medium. Most of the clinical characteristics of newborns were respiratory difficulty and secondly fever. Some newborns gastrointestinal (GIS) symptoms in the form of diarrhea and feeding intolerance and abdominal distension were present in 50%. The fatality case did not exist in any newborn due to COVID-19. Death occurred in one case due to prematurity. CONCLUSIONS: The most common symptoms in patients with COVID-19 infection in the neonatal period are respiratory tract symptoms and fever. It has been observed that the COVID-19 infection detected in the neonatal period is not fatal. However, data including more cases are needed.