Human Coronavirus Infections and Pregnancy

Human coronavirus (HCoV) causes potentially fatal respiratory disease. Pregnancy is a physiological state that predisposes women to viral infection. In this review, we aim to present advances in the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment in HCoV in pregnancy. We retrieved information from the Pubmed database up to June 2020, using various search terms and relevant words, including coronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, 2019 coronavirus disease, and pregnancy. Both basic and clinical studies were selected. We found no evidence that pregnant women are more susceptible to HCoV infection or that those with HCoV infection are more prone to developing severe pneumonia. There is also no confirmed evidence of vertical mother-to-child transmission of HcoV infection during maternal HCoV infection. Those diagnosed with infection should be promptly admitted to a negative-pressure isolation ward, preferably in a designated hospital with adequate facilities and multi-disciplinary expertise to manage critically ill obstetric patients. Antiviral treatment has been routinely used to treat pregnant women with HCoV infection. The timing and mode of delivery should be individualized, depending mainly on the clinical status of the patient, gestational age, and fetal condition. Early cord clamping and temporary separation of the newborn for at least 2 weeks is recommended. All medical staff caring for patients with HCoV infection should use personal protective equipment. This review highlights the advances in pathogenesis, maternal-fetal outcome, maternal-fetal transmission, diagnosis and treatment in HCoV including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy.     

European and United Kingdom COVID-19 pandemic experience: The same but different

The global healthcare landscape has changed dramatically and rapidly in 2020. This has had an impact upon paediatricians and in particular respiratory paediatricians. The effects in Europe, with its mature healthcare system, have been far faster and greater than most authorities anticipated. Within six weeks of COVID-19 being declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation [WHO] in China, Europe had become the new epicentre of disease. A pandemic was finally declared by the WHO on March 11th 2020. Continued international travel combined with the slow response of some political leaders and a variable focus on economic rather than health consequences resulted in varying containment strategies in response to the threat of the initial wave of the pandemic. It is likely that this variation has contributed to widely differing outcomes across Europe. Common to all countries was the stark lack of preparations and initial poor co-ordination of responses between levels of government to this unforeseen but not unheralded global health crisis. In this article we highlight the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom.     

Pediatric lung function testing during a pandemic: An international perspective

The COVID pandemic has passed its first peak for now in many countries while some are still on the rise, with some facing a second wave of cases. Precautions and infection control measures for both pediatric and adult pulmonary function testing (PFT) have been a topic of debate during the pandemic. Many centers had to close their PFT laboratories during the initial periods of the pandemic and are reopening as the numbers of new cases are decreasing. This review aims to summarize different practices of PFT laboratory management in different countries, including patient appointments, personal protective equipment, testing room requirements and telemedicine during and immediately following the COVID pandemic.     

严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2流行期间小儿骨科门急诊及住院手术感染防控建议

2019年12月以来,严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)感染导致的肺炎(corona virus disease 2019,COVID-19)开始肆虐武汉,并且波及全国。我院作为上海市儿童SARS-CoV-2感染唯一定点接收治疗单位,要求各科室、各部门科学防治,精准施策,全面做好抗疫防疫工作。我们查阅国家公布的有关条例和最新研究,根据SARS-CoV-2理化性质和传染特点,遵从国家、医院制定的防控方案,结合小儿骨科临床实际,制定出适合小儿骨科临床实践的SARS-CoV-2感染防控措施,从小儿骨科门诊、急诊、住院和手术等各环节防控SARS-CoV-2感染,也希望能够为其他小儿外科亚专业及其他医院防控SARS-CoV-2感染提供参考。     

Impact of perinatal COVID on fetal and neonatal brain and neurodevelopmental outcomes

After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned many aspects of the disease and the virus: its molecular structure, how it infects human cells, the clinical picture at different ages, potential therapies, and the effectiveness of prophylaxis. Research is currently focused on the short- and long-term consequences of COVID-19. We review the available information on the neurodevelopmental outcome of infants born during the pandemic from infected and non-infected mothers, as well as the neurological impact of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also discuss the mechanisms that could potentially affect the fetal or neonatal brain including direct impact after vertical transmission, maternal immune activation with a proinflammatory cytokine storm, and finally the consequences of complications of pregnancy secondary to maternal infection that could affect the fetus. Several follow-up studies have noted a variety of neurodevelopmental sequelae among infants born during the pandemic. There is controversy as to the exact etiopathogenesis of these neurodevelopmental effects: from the infection itself or as a result of parental emotional stress during that period. We summarize case reports of acute neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections associated with neurological signs and neuroimaging changes. Many infants born during previous pandemics caused by other respiratory viruses demonstrated serious neurodevelopmental and psychological sequelae that were only recognized after several years of follow-up. It is essential to warn health authorities about the need for very long-term continuous follow up of infants born during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic for early detection and treatment that could help mitigate the neurodevelopmental consequences of perinatal COVID-19.     

Covid-19 in children aged 5–11: Examining the issues surrounding vaccination and public health policy

BackgroundChildren under 12 are now the largest unvaccinated group. Following FDA approval, vaccination of 5–11 year olds is now being encouraged in some countries. We present data on child COVID-related morbidity in Israel and discuss the complexities surrounding vaccinating children aged 5–11.MethodsData were obtained from Israel’s open COVID database regarding new confirmed daily COVID-19 cases, severe hospitalized cases and deaths by age group in Israel from February 2020-November 2021, as well as vaccination rate and adverse events following vaccination.ResultsIn 5–11 year olds, there were 460 hospitalizations, including 72 moderate to critical (0.007% population rate), with 3 deaths (0.0003% population rate). Children (0–19) made up the largest proportion (41%) of cases, but comprised just <0.1% of deaths, and <1% of severe cases. Post-vaccine myocarditis was much lower than severe COVID risk except in boys aged 12–19 where it was equivalent to the risk of mechanical ventilation due to COVID in boys aged 10–19 (12 per 100,000). High numbers of children were quarantined.ConclusionsCOVID risk is minimal for most children though rare complications do occur. Israeli and US pediatric associations have recommended vaccinating children, particularly in high-incidence scenarios where risk–benefit balance is more clear-cut. However only a quarter of eligible parents have vaccinated their children. Parents may consider health grounds but also restrictions on children, population vaccination levels, waning immunity and new variants, and should be provided with clear information to help them make an informed decision. Policymakers should reevaluate the need for isolations, testing and mask-wearing in school age children, which are detrimental to their wellbeing.     

HPV Vaccine Hesitancy: Findings From a Statewide Survey of Health Care Providers

IntroductionHealth care provider recommendations are critical for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake. We sought to describe providers' HPV vaccine recommendation practices and explore their perceptions of parental hesitancy.MethodA statewide sample (n = 575) of Minnesota health care providers (20% pediatricians, 47% family medicine physicians, and 33% nurse practitioners) completed our online survey in April 2013.ResultsOnly 76% of health care providers reported routinely recommending HPV vaccine for girls ages 11 to 12 years, and far fewer (46%) did so for boys (p < .001). A majority of providers reported asking questions about parents' concerns (74%), but many lacked time to probe reasons (47%) or believed that they could not change parents' minds (55%). Higher levels of self-efficacy and outcome expectations were associated with routine recommendations (p < .05).DiscussionFindings suggest that providers' perceptions of hesitancy may discourage them from routinely recommending the HPV vaccine. Improving providers' self-efficacy to address hesitancy may be important for improving vaccination rates.