Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis due to COVID-19. A case report

J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2023;16(1):165-168. doi: 10.3233/NPM-210906.

Abstract

Digestive symptoms have been reported in an important proportion of children with COVID-19, and the clinical expression of critical patients with COVID-19 is thought to result from progressive increase of inflammation and an unusual trend of hypercoagulation. We report a newborn received with abdominal distension, green vomiting and imaging suggestive for enterocolitis. He had a close contact with COVID-19 and the PCR for SARS-CoV-2 came back positive. Despite the supportive measures, his condition deteriorated and a surgery was decided. The surgical exploration found an ischemic bowel. The therapeutic measures were ineffective as the child passed away a few hours after surgery despite the resuscitation treatment performed. The confirmed enterocolitis happening within the period of acute infection by SARS-CoV-2, the NEC was likely a manifestation of COVID-19.

Keywords: Necrotizing enterocolitis; SARS-CoV-2; neonate.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Child
  • Enterocolitis* / complications
  • Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases*
  • Male
  • SARS-CoV-2