Is the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmitted from mother to child?

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Sim, in charge of the Fetal Intervention Center, Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, said: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2020. Wuhan (China) was the place with the highest number of citizens infected with COVID-19 at that time.

At that time in Wuhan, with more than 10,000 pregnant women, of which 65 cases were positive for SARS-CoV-2. When testing umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, and throat fluid samples of newborns, most of the results were negative for SARS-CoV-2. At that stage, it was announced that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was not transmitted from mother to child.

However, recently, when synthesizing from 38 studies around the world, researchers said that it seems that SARS-CoV-2 has the ability to transmit from mother to child but at a very low rate.

“Through sampling from the nose and throat, the rate of newborns positive for SARS-CoV-2 was 2.9%. Meanwhile, analysis results from placentas taken after delivery showed that 7.7% samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2. For cord blood, the rate is 2.9%. There are positive cases but the rate is very low. The hedge of thorns is a good protective barrier for the baby”– TS Sim analysis.

Also according to this expert, it is still a challenge to publish the official conclusion that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted from mother to child. Researchers around the world still need to continue to do more in-depth research on this issue.

What to do to limit?

Nguyen Thi Sim said that in fact, many pregnant women don’t know they have COVID-19 until they go into labor. Therefore, the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection for newborns in medical facilities is taken care of by doctors.

Some studies have found that in some mothers with COVID-19, when tested with milk samples, some were positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, in these cases, not all infants contracted COVID-19.

“According to a WHO report, out of 46 mothers with COVID-19, only 3 milk samples from 3 cases were positive for SARS-CoV-2. But of the three infants born to these people, only one was infected with SARS-CoV-2. Experts around the world have not yet concluded that this case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was caused by a milk sample or by the mother’s direct care and exposure.– Dr. Sim said.

Therefore, Dr. Sim recommends, if mothers are really enough health and low virus concentration can be exposed to care for children. As for the case of weak health, systemic symptoms are still acute, the virus concentration is still high, the ability to transmit SARS-CoV-2 to the child will be quite large. Therefore, we need to temporarily ask family members to take care of the baby because the newborn’s immune system is still weak.

According to Sciencedaily, research results published in the British Medical Journal show that less than 2% of babies born to mothers infected with the SARS CoV-2 virus also tested positive for the virus. However, this rate is higher if the mother has severe COVID-19 or is diagnosed with the disease after giving birth. The experts also found that vaginal birth and breastfeeding did not increase the likelihood of babies testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 when their mothers were infected.

An international research team led by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Collaborative Center for Women’s Health and the University of Birmingham (UK) published the results after examining data on more than 14,000 people. babies born to mothers with COVID-19 from around the world. According to study leader Shakila Thangaratinam, an expert in maternal and perinatal health at the University of Birmingham, this is the first comprehensive study on the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus while in the womb. mother, during and after birth.

The authors also recommend that vaccination during pregnancy be further encouraged to prevent maternal infection and serious illness.

TS.BS Nguyen Thi Sim also recommends vaccination COVID-19 vaccine In pregnant women is necessary, in order to improve the body’s immunity, patients will be less severe, especially for people at high risk, including pregnant women.

The World Association of Maternal-Fetal Medicine has repeatedly said that the COVID-19 vaccine should be used for people who are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant and breastfeeding.

“Several studies around the world demonstrate that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can protect women from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 and keeping them as healthy as possible during pregnancy is important for women. with the health of the fetus. Furthermore, vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy produces antibodies that may protect the baby. Therefore, pregnant women should get vaccinated against COVID-19 to ensure their own health and best protect the fetus.– Dr. Nguyen Thi Sim said.