Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 6: Experts on Thursday said that the pregnancy could be an immunity-compromising condition, thus the risk of catching any disease, including COVID-19 could be on the higher side.
Flu expert and president Doctors association of Kashmir Dr Nisar Ul Hassan said that the second wave of Covid-19 is affecting severely pregnant ladies as well which was not the case in the first wave.
“During pregnancy body is actively working to provide nourishment for two, hence, in relative terms, the risk of catching any disease, including COVID-19 could be on the higher side,” he said
Hassan said that in the last few days, two pregnant ladies were received at SMHS with severe pneumonia and among them one is still battling for life despite taking all life saving drugs.
“Pregnant ladies were tested positive in the first wave as well but they were asymptomatic mostly but in the second wave we are witnessing severity in pregnant ladies as well,” he said.
He said that if a pregnant lady tests positive, the chances of cesarean and admitting the baby in Immunal care units in children is very high.
Hassan said that a pregnant lady tested positive for Covid-19 can transmit the virus to her baby in the womb so there is a need that pregnant ladies who are at little higher risk must be vaccinated on priority.
“There’s now a strong case for vaccination to be thrown open for pregnant women in India as women who get vaccinated against COVID-19 could pass on protective antibodies to their babies at birth, which could safeguard them from infection risk till the time they are breastfed,” he said.
Dr Showkat Shifa, Assistant Professor at GMC Anantnag told Kashmir News Observer that pregnant women are just as much at risk for viral transmission like healthy adults. However, studies about vertical transmission are going on.
“Being in a delicate condition, pregnant women must take precautions, however, there is currently no data suggesting risk of miscarriage due to COVID-19,” he said.
He said that pregnancy comes with significant changes in the body including the immune system, so it is important to take extra precautions to avoid catching the infection, “but there is no need to panic”.
Experts believe that pregnancy itself is a vulnerable stage as they nurture another life within their womb.
“Thus the state of partial immune suppression makes pregnant women more vulnerable to viral infections, and the morbidity is higher even with seasonal influenza,” they said.
“So, there is a need that pregnant women must be very careful during this time when COVID-19 is causing this entire catastrophe globally,” they said.
