CHEST Guidelines-Clinical-and-Imaging-Features-of-COVID-19-in-a-Neo (1)

Clinical-and-Imaging-Features-of-COVID-19-in-a-Neo (1)

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This case report, detailed by Ying Xiong, MD, et al., presents the clinical and imaging characteristics of COVID-19 in a neonate, the youngest patient diagnosed at the time. The case involved a 34-year-old pregnant woman from Wuhan, China, who exhibited mild symptoms of COVID-19. Laboratory results indicated a possible viral infection, and a chest CT revealed multiple ground-glass opacities, common in COVID-19 pneumonia. Following a positive real-time PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, a C-section was performed under strict infection control measures. The newborn, weighing 3.25 kg with an Apgar score of 8-9, had no obvious respiratory distress, although an initial PCR test was positive for the virus.<br /><br />The newborn was tested again during the hospital stay. An initial chest radiograph was normal, but subsequent imaging four days later displayed minor abnormalities, including bronchovascular shadows and ground-glass opacity. Throughout hospitalization, the neonate maintained stable vital signs and growth, without needing antibiotics. By day 15, radiographic abnormalities had dissipated, and PCR tests returned negative. These findings enabled the baby's discharge on day 17.<br /><br />This report raises questions about neonatal transmission—whether the infection occurred during delivery or in utero—given that the case represented one of the earliest neonatal infections reported. Existing evidence suggests limited vertical transmission potential, although the exact mode in this case remains uncertain. The authors observe that neonates generally exhibit mild COVID-19 symptoms and emphasize the need for vigilance among healthcare providers when assessing newborns from infected mothers. The case underscores the importance of improving understanding regarding prevention and transmission of COVID-19 in neonates.

Keywords

COVID-19

neonate

vertical transmission

SARS-CoV-2

ground-glass opacities

neonatal infection

Wuhan

C-section

PCR test

infection control