Neonatal Issues Related to COVID-19
Description General and supportive measures Medicine treatment DESCRIPTION Most neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 will not be seriously affected, although prematurity seems to be more common. Vertical and breast milk associated transmission are exceedingly rare. GENERAL AND SUPPORTIVE MEASURES Preferably, do not separate babies from their mothers. Encourage breastfeeding unless contra-
Description
General and supportive measures
Medicine treatment
DESCRIPTION
- Most neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 will not be seriously affected, although prematurity seems to be more common.
- Vertical and breast milk associated transmission are exceedingly rare.
GENERAL AND SUPPORTIVE MEASURES
- Preferably, do not separate babies from their mothers.
- Encourage breastfeeding unless contra-indicated for other medical reasons.
- Medical care, if required, should preferably be offered without separating babies from their caregivers (e.g. phototherapy, naso-gastric feeds, blood sugar monitoring, parenteral antibiotics) – the ability to do this will depend on local circumstances.
- If separation is unavoidable, keep isolated in a closed incubator with appropriate non-pharmaceutical infection control measures until discharge, 7 days from onset of mother’s symptoms or from birth (whichever comes first).
- Routine neonatal testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection is unnecessary, however, if symptoms not explained by other neonatal diseases develop, then nasopharyngeal sampling for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing is appropriate.
MEDICINE TREATMENT
Concomitant neonatal conditions: As per existing neonatal guidelines (see: Neonatal Conditions).
- For suspected/confirmed COVID-19: supportive therapy as needed.
Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines List for South Africa Paediatric Hospital _2023, 5th edition_Updated July 2024
Chapter 8: Infective/Infectious Diseases,
8.32.2 Neonatal Issues Related To Covid-19