Rospotrebnadzor announced the consequences of COVID-19 during pregnancy

A woman who recovered from a coronavirus infection in the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy gave birth to a baby with a severe eye defect. This was announced by the deputy director for clinical and analytical work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor Natalia Pshenichnaya, citing data from scientists, RIA Novosti writes.

“Recently, a case of embryopathy was described, manifested by a severe malformation of the eye (unilateral microphthalmos, optic nerve hypoplasia and congenital retinopathy), associated with a mother’s COVID-19 disease at the fifth and sixth weeks of embryonic development,” Pshenichnaya said.

According to Pshenichnaya, the malformation of the eyes was the same as that observed after rubella in the mother in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The specialist also added that in some cases, women who have recovered from coronavirus experience premature births. While infants born prematurely may experience developmental delays. “Whether this is directly related to the coronavirus is difficult to say,” she added.