Litzaidis Abreu Piña, mother of little Maylom, recounted the difficult delivery and the medical complications that her baby faced after being born amid a situation compatible with chikungunya.
In a testimony describing high fever, the sudden onset of contractions, and the transfer of the newborn to specialized care due to respiratory issues, Abreu shared with the official media of Matanzas the ordeal he experienced days ago.
According to her account, she was admitted to the "José Ramón López Tabrane" Gyneco-Obstetric Hospital on a Sunday with a temperature of 38.5°C and a rash on her abdomen; that night she had a fever of 40°C, "difficult to reduce," and around one in the morning strong contractions began.
Upon the onset of labor, it was reported that the baby's heart rate had increased and that, upon the breaking of the waters, the team detected that the baby had defecated in the womb, prompting the decision to perform a cesarean section.
The mother recounts that the baby was born cyanotic (with a change in coloration) and with respiratory issues.
As she endured pain and swelling—“swollen feet,” fever, and difficulties walking—she would go to see her son in the hospital.
According to the testimony, it was initially considered that it might be a condition related to meconium, and six days later, the baby was extubated and was breathing better. However, on that same day he began to show signs of bleeding, and doctors started to consider a "possible viral infection."
In that context, the material explains that vertical transmission of chikungunya is considered "zero" in the first and second trimesters, but in the third trimester, particularly around the time of delivery, it can reach "up to 50%."
The narrative describes hematological and coagulation alterations: low hemoglobin, low platelets, fluid in the abdomen, inflammation, and "coagulation disorder."
The testimony mentions that the baby experienced disseminated intravascular coagulation, described there as one of the most serious conditions a child can face, associated with very severe infections and complications “described in the literature” for this disease.
The mother recounts days of uncertainty—“without sleep,” waiting for news—and states that the boy required multiple transfusions of red blood cells and platelets, with a positive outcome.
Later, it was noted that the baby had a seizure and that after stabilizing, the team attempted to wean him off ventilation: he spent two days with non-invasive ventilation and was eventually placed “on the breast,” showing improvement.
However, according to their account, after a long time exposed, he developed many secretions and showed signs of respiratory distress again which required him to be ventilated once more for about a week.
He recounts that they then adjusted his treatments—“new medications,” a change of antibiotic—and that he improved again: they removed the ventilation, he returned to BNI, and then he began a phase of gradual recovery.
In the final part of the testimony, it is stated that the baby went from "critical" to "stable" and that the objective was now to "wait," with the expectation of going home.
The mother expresses emotion and gratitude to the medical and nursing staff, attributing the recovery to the efforts of the team that worked with the newborn.
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