Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative strain for the ongoing global pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with varying outcomes in different age groups. Vertical transmission and post-infection immunity have not been completely established.
Objective: To determine the possible source of infection and mode of transmission in a neonate with parents who were tested negative for COVID-19 that can help in recommending prevention and control.
Methodology
This is an outbreak case report of 3 days old neonate who was tested positive for COVID-19 on 29 March, 2020. Both parents of the neonate were tested negative for COVID-19 at Al Dawadmi General hospital, located in the central region of Saudi Arabia. A team of FETP went to Al Dawadmi General hospital for investigating the case of a 3 days old COVID-19 positive boy whose both parents were tested negative. The team worked with the Preventive Department in Health Directorate for data collection. We collected data by in-person interviews of both parents of neonatal COVID-19 case, and review of medical files.
Results
We identified one case of neonatal COVID-19 in Al Dawadmi, Saudi Arabia. The neonate was a 3 days old boy, who was brought to the hospital with symptoms of fever, cough and rhinorrhoea. He was otherwise maintaining normal oxygen saturation with no shortness of breath and no gastrointestinal symptoms was discharged on 1 April, 2019, at fourth day of admission. Both parents tested negative for the virus. Both vertical and horizontal roots of transmission could have been the source of infection.
Conclusion
Case was diagnosed as neonatal COVID-19 based on clinical features and laboratory results and was mild that might have been acquired horizontally or vertically.