Article on puerperal pyrexia
Puerperal pyrexia is defined as it is commonly seen fever within 6 weeks when the women has given birth .It is a common condition.Most cases are seen due to infection in the genital tract area but there are a wide variety of range if possible.
Causes:
- UTI ( urinary tract infection)
- Genital tract infection
- Mastitis
- Post operative infection following caesarean section
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Other infection
- Pyrexia in a recently delivered mother may also be due to causes common to all such as viral infection or chest infection
- Glandular fever is probably a common cause of fever in the post partum period.
General management:
Ice packs may be useful during pain from wounds.
Rest and adequate fluid intake are required particularly for mothers who are breast feeding.
Sign and symptoms:
- Pyrexia
- Sustained tachycardia
- Breathless, chest pain, or abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Uterine or renal angle pain
- Tenderness
- Distressed
Prevention: - Scrupulous attention to hygiene should be used during all examination and used of instruments during and after labour.
- Catheterization should be avoided.
- Perineal wounds should be cleaned and sutured as soon as possible after delivery.
- Every mobilization of delivered mother will help to protect against venous thrombosis.
- Breast feeding in order to reduce Mastitis.
Pharmacological: - I.V administration of broad spectrum antibiotics within 1 hours of suspicion of severe sepsis with or without septic shock is recommended .
- Analgesia may be required non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs should be avoided for pain relief in cases of sepsis.
- Antibiotics should be commenced after taking specimen and should not be delayed until the results are available.
- A combination of either piperacillin provides one of the broadest ranges of treatment for severe sepsis.
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