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Puerperal fever, also known as childbed fever, is a severe form of septicemia that can develop after childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion. It is caused by unsanitary environments or bacteria. Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics can prevent it from developing into puerperal sepsis, which can be fatal. The importance of antiseptic techniques has reduced the number of deaths from puerperal fever, but it is still a risk for some women. Recognizing the warning signs and seeking medical attention is crucial.
Also known as childbed fever, puerperal fever is a condition that can develop into puerperal sepsis. This is a severe form of septicemia that is most often contracted after an abortion, miscarriage or childbirth. However, women who deliver by cesarean section have a higher risk of getting puerperal sepsis or fever than those who deliver vaginally.
Puerperal fever is diagnosed when a woman has a temperature above 100.4°C (38°C) for 24 hours or recurring from the end of the first to the end of the 10th day after delivery. An oral temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or more on two of the first ten days after delivery is also a warning sign. Some patients may report headache, vomiting, trouble breathing, diarrhea, sore throat, or unusual vaginal discharge. If caught early, this condition can be treated with antibiotics. When it develops into puerperal sepsis, however, the condition can lead to toxic shock syndrome, multiple organ failure, and death.
Commonly, sepsis of the genital tract is the infection responsible for puerperal fever. Unsanitary environments can cause the disease to spread, although some cases are naturally caused by group A strep and group B strep bacteria.
Historically, puerperal fever was a serious danger to pregnant women. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was second only to tuberculosis as the leading cause of death for all women of childbearing age. The condition has also been listed as the most common cause of maternal mortality. The spread of this condition has been largely due to a lack of awareness of the importance of a sterile hospital environment. In fact, doctors often deliver multiple babies in the same day without washing hands or changing clothes between appointments.
After the importance of antiseptic techniques became widely understood in the 20th century, maternal deaths from puerperal fever declined dramatically. In the United States today, the condition is relatively rare. However, about 20 out of 3 women still die of puerperal sepsis each year. Victims come from a variety of backgrounds, so young and fit mothers with strong immune systems are also at risk. Understanding how to recognize the warning signs of puerperal fever and when to seek medical attention is crucial.
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