COVID-19 infection during pregnancy: a systematic review to summarize possible symptoms, treatments, and pregnancy outcomes

Md. Mostaured Ali Khan; Md Nuruzzaman Khan; Md. Golam Mustagir; Juwel Rana; Md. Rajwanul Haque; Md. Mosfequr Rahman

The background characteristics of the selected studies are summarized in Table 1 . All included studies were conducted in China following the initiation of the COVID-19 outbreak in December 2019. Five of the nine included studies were followed retrospective cohort study design, two were cross-sectional, and two were a case report. A total of 101 women were included in the selected nine articles; their mean age was 30 years, and most of them were in the third trimester of pregnancy (gestational age 22-41 weeks). Table 2 presents the symptoms reported in the included studies. Where available, the symptoms were reported on case-basis included in the studies. Fever (66.7%) and cough (39.4%) were the major symptoms following COVID-19 infection among pregnant women ( Figure 2) . The other symptoms reported were fatigue (15.2%), breathing difficulties (14.1%), and myalgia (7.1%). Sore throat (5.1%), diarrhea (4%), poor appetite (3%), headache (3%), and malaise (2%) were also reported among pregnant women following COVID-19 infection. Two different pregnant women also reported mulligrubs and cholecystitis, respectively, which were added to the common symptoms.