Report on a lactating patient with COVID-19

Abstract

Case presentation: We report the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a lactating patient in Chizhou, Anhui Province, China. The lactating patient presented with intermittent fever for 16 days and cough for 10 days. Given her travel history to the epidemic area and the chest CT scan results, the patient was immediately admitted to the isolation ward of the Infectious Disease Department and breastfeeding was discontinued. Pharyngeal swab specimens tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, previously known as 2019-nCoV) in nucleic acid testing. During hospitalization, she also experienced bilateral breast tenderness. After active treatment, the patient ultimately achieved remission and was discharged from the hospital.

Discussion and conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets and patient contact, rendering the general population to a high risk of infection. The management of mother-child interactions and breastfeeding in women with COVID-19 is a difficult problem. The purpose of this case report is to help clinicians by improving the understanding of COVID-19, particularly in lactating patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Infection; Lactating patient.

Fig. 1

a Chest CT scans showed multiple flaky, consolidated lesions scattered throughout the right lower lobe, the left upper lobe apicoposterior segment, the lingula of the left lung, and the left lower lobe. b Chest CT showed some lesions had progressed. c Chest CT showed the bilateral lesions were significantly resolved when compared with the previous scans. d Chest CT showed the original focus was obviously absorbed

Fig. 2

Flowchart of the patient’s symptoms, diagnosis and treatment from January 6 to February 2, 2020