Puerperal fever: meaning, symptoms and treatment
After birth, the infectious disease puerperal fever can occur in the mother, which can be fatal without treatment. We inform you about the importance of the complication, which symptoms occur at the same time and how puerperal fever can be treated.
What triggers puerperal fever?
Puerperal fever occurs in women who have just given birth. Other names of the disease are puerperal fever, puerperal epsis andpuerperal fever. Puerperal fever is an infectious disease caused by various pathogens such as staphylococci or streptococci. These enter the body via the uterus and multiply strongly there due to the ideal conditions.
Birthcreates a wound surface on the uterus during the detachment of the placenta. In addition, during this time, the vagina and uterus are directly connected to each other, since the cervix has not yet closed completely. Thus, the pathogens have easy access to the body and the bloodstream.
There can be several reasons for the inflammation. Either the afterbirth was not completely excreted or the rules of hygiene were not sufficiently followed. Even a stagnantweekly flowcan trigger the infection, as well as weak aftermath.
The consequences of puerperal fever include blood poisoning, as well as inflammation of various organs such as the uterine lining. Without treatment, the disease usually ends fatally.
These symptoms indicate puerperal fever
Puerperal fever draws attention to itself with very noticeable symptoms. Even if there is only a slight suspicion, you should always contact your doctor due to the great risks.
- As the name suggests, a symptom of the disease is fever, which gradually rises very high, to over 38 degrees Celsius.
- Puerperal fever also causes headaches, body aches and abdominal pain. This usually results in nausea and vomiting.
- The weekly flow stops or has an unpleasant odor.
- Shock symptoms also occur. You can recognize this by a weak blood pressure as well as restlessness and a strong increase in breathing and pulse.
How puerperal fever is treated
If you seek medical treatment early enough for puerperal fever symptoms, the disease can be treated today without problems and consequences. Your doctor will give you special antibiotics that do not have a negative effect on your child if you breastfeed.
As a preventive measure, you should attach particular importance to hygiene in all areas of life after birth. You should change your bandage every few hours and cleanse your body regularly. Always make sure your hands are washed correctly. Breastfeeding also helps, as the resulting hormone oxytocin makes the weekly flow stronger and thus the pathogens are more easily washed out of the body.