VIDEO: Early SARS-CoV-2 exposure may impact infant development

WASHINGTON — Some infants with in utero or early life exposure to SARS-CoV-2 had borderline to low developmental scores, a study found, and this was most common among babies born to mothers with symptomatic COVID-19.

Infants with early exposure “require extra follow-up,” Sarah B. Mulkey, MD, PhD, a prenatal-neonatal neurologist at Children’s National Hospital here, says in this video.

Mulkey discussed a study that followed babies who were either born to mothers with COVID-19 or were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in their first month of life and gauged how the exposure affected their neurologic development.

“Many of these babies had to come to our NICU,” Mulkey said.

References:

Mulkey S, et al. Abstract 2301. Presented at: IDWeek; Oct. 19-23, 2022; Washington (hybrid meeting).