Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Febrile Neonates

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2020 Nov 10;9(5):630-635. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piaa084.

Abstract

Most severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in pediatric patients are mild or asymptomatic. However, infants have emerged at higher risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes in pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We report a case series of 4 full-term neonates hospitalized with fever and found to have SARS-CoV-2 infection with a spectrum of illness severities. Two neonates required admission to the intensive care unit for respiratory insufficiency and end organ involvement. Half of the patients were found to have a coinfection. One neonate received antiviral therapy with remdesivir and is, to our knowledge, the youngest patient to receive this drug for COVID-19. All neonates had favorable outcomes.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; infant; neonatal sepsis; remdesivir.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Chemical Analysis
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Coronavirus Infections* / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Electrocardiography
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Socioeconomic Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers