The SINEPOST study will compare the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19) on the development of children who were exposed to the virus during pregnancy or shortly after birth to infants who have not been exposed to the virus.
Laura and her two year old son Bradley have been enrolled in the SINEPOST study, which will see the difference between children who were exposed to the virus during pregnancy or shortly after birth to infants who have not been exposed to the virus.
It comes after Laura became unwell with COVID when she was seven months pregnant with her son Bradley and went on to experience complications at birth.
The questionnaire will include the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) used by professionals to monitor a child’s developmental progress; the Liverpool Respiratory Symptoms Questionnaire (LRSQ) which assesses patterns of wheezing and other respiratory symptoms in infants and preschool children; and additional questions about the child’s general health and use of health care services.
Most newborn babies infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild or no symptoms, however they might be at risk of long-term effects. The SINEPOST study will add to what is already known about the impact of exposure to COVID-19, and increase our understanding of the short- and long-term impact of exposure in newborns.
Dr Ela Chakkarapani, Consultant Senior Lecturer in Neonatology at the University of Bristol Medical School says: “To understand the long-term effects on newborns who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2, we will assess how children develop when they grow using standard developmental questionnaires completed by parents. The results from our study will help inform guidance for pregnant women and new parents and also will help identify children who might need additional support. It will also stimulate research into new interventions to reduce the long-term impact of the virus on children’s lives.”
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