Short Communication
Year: 2020 | Month: April-June | Volume: 5 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 138-143
COVID-19 in Pregnancy- Review of Guidelines in Indian Setting from the Point of View of Community Health
Anuvi1, Ratnesh2
1Department of OBG, Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
2Department of Community Medicine, Dumka Medical College, Dumka, Jharkhand, India
Corresponding Author: Ratnesh
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 disease’s unparalleled speed of spread has left us all in a worldwide alarming situation. The causative agent of this disease is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as proposed by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Pregnant women might show more severe symptoms of COVID-19 infection but the vertical transmission risk remains uncertain. Precautionary methods like frequent hand wash and social distancing should be done. Routine ANC visits for uninfected patients can be deferred and telephonic consultation with the specialist should be encouraged. For COVID19 positive woman in labor, obstetric, anesthetic or neonatal interventions should be done as per standard practice. Epidural or spinal anesthesia isn’t contraindicated. General anesthesia should be avoided as risk of transmission is high during intubation. For pregnant patients not in labor, supportive and symptomatic treatment should be given. Antiviral regimen or combination of hydroxychloroquine with azithromycin has shown positive results. Post-delivery, the newborn should be temporarily separated from COVID19 positive mother and expressed breast milk can be given.
Keywords: COVID-19, Pregnancy, Guidelines, Community Health