Health Update : Covid-19 infection during pregnancy leads to brain damage
The risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women is low. However, women who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are at increased risk of severe illness with COVID-19. Severe illness means that you might need to be hospitalized, have intensive care or be placed on a ventilator to help with breathing. Pregnant women with COVID-19 are also more likely to deliver a baby before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy (premature birth). Pregnant women with COVID-19 might also be at increased risk of problems such as stillbirth and pregnancy loss.
This study by University of Miami has proven that Covid may break into placenta and infect foetuses, causing brain damage in infants, gynaecologist at the University Dr Shahnaz Duara said though such cases are rare, women who were infected during their pregnancies should inform about the situation to their children’s paediatricians to check for developmental delays.
Doctors earlier suggested possibilities of infection from pregnant mothers to their infant through placenta but there was no direct evidence until now.
Source-Hindustan Times
