COVID-19 in the neonatal period

Abstract

Objective: To present the epidemiological, pathophysiological and clinical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the neonatal population. Bibliographic review: COVID-19 is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 which, due to its high transmissibility, has spread globally, presenting a multifaceted character in different population groups, such as neonatal, with its evident low immunity. In this group, clinical symptoms are widely variable, ranging from asymptomatic and mild cases to severe conditions that, at times, can be similar to other common conditions during this period, especially in premature babies. There is a possibility of intrauterine vertical transmission and the RT-PCR molecular test is the gold standard for diagnosis. Treatment in the neonatal population predominantly comprises supportive measures and the presence of other comorbidities that may present in the neonatal period, such as congenital heart disease and prematurity, may interfere with the prognosis. Final considerations: Despite the current endemic nature of COVID-19, future perspectives are entangled between the possibility of new outbreaks, long-term sequelae and co-infection with other respiratory viruses that commonly affect newborns and infants, making it important to know the behavior of COVID-19 in these populations.