Clinical and paraclinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 variants in neonates and infants

Dear Editor,
With the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, symptoms such as fever, cough, myalgia, and fatigue, along with laboratory findings of leukocyte count abnormalities and chest radiographic evidence, have been reported as nonspecific symptoms in various variants. Fever was the most common symptom in all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, although evidence suggest that children with the beta variant experienced less fever. Other manifestations, such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness, have been less common, but may sometimes be the only symptom. In a systematic review on the characteristics of infants with SARS-CoV-2 infection in England, it was reported that the main symptoms at presentation were heatstroke, poor feeding, vomiting, respiratory symptoms, crysis, and lethargy. The clinical symptoms of COVID-19 in children vary depending on the virus variant and correspond to the World Health Organization peak variants of concern. Therefore, clinical guidelines are recommended to perform protected deliveries and reduce the possibility of contracting Covid-19 during delivery and after delivery in infected pregnant women. Standardized testing protocol, avoiding mother-to-child transmission, and providing the best treatment for symptomatic infants are central issues in the management of infections in infants and children with suspected or suspected COVID-19. It is better to use breast milk in the form of expressed milk or powdered milk. PCR-positive neonates should be admitted to a negative pressure isolation room and provided with intubation or airway management services.