II. Epidemiology

  1. Incidence Peripartum Infection: 5-7% (higher following Cesarean Section)

III. Causes

  1. Female genital tract is most common source (esp. Surgical Site Infections)
  2. See Differential Diagnosis

IV. Risk Factors: Postpartum Infection (esp. Surgical Site Infection)

V. Diagnosis

  1. Postpartum Fever is Temperature >38.5 in the first 24 hours after delivery

VI. Differential Diagnosis: Seven W's of Maternal Fever

  1. Womb
    1. Postpartum Endometritis (or Chorioamnionitis)
  2. Wind
    1. Atelectasis is not cause of fever (fever and atelectesis are caused by major surgery)
    2. Pneumonia
  3. Water
    1. Urinary Tract Infection
  4. Walk
    1. Deep Vein Thrombosis
    2. Pulmonary Embolism
    3. Pelvic Vein Thrombophlebitis
  5. Wound
    1. Cesarean Section related infection
    2. Episiotomy infection
    3. Epidural Abscess
  6. Weaning
    1. Breast engorgement
    2. Postpartum Mastitis
    3. Breast Abscess
  7. Wonder
    1. Drug Fever ("wonder drugs")

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Related Studies

Ontology: Puerperal Infection (C0034041)

Definition (CSP) infection occurring in the puerperium or postpartum period.
Definition (MSH) An infection occurring in PUERPERIUM, the period of 6-8 weeks after giving birth.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D011645
English Infection, Puerperal, Infections, Puerperal, Puerperal Infections, Puerperal Infection, PUERPERAL INFECT, INFECT PUERPERAL, Puerperal Infection [Disease/Finding], Infection;puerperal, Puerperal infections, Puerperal infection, puerperal infection, puerperal infection (diagnosis), infection; puerperal, puerperal; infection
Italian Infezioni puerperali, Infezione puerperale
Swedish Barnsängsinfektioner
Czech puerperální infekce, Infekce v šestinedělí, Puerperální infekce, horečka omladnic, febris puerperalis, poporodní horečka
Finnish Lapsivuodeinfektio
Russian POSLERODOVAIA INFEKTSIIA, ПОСЛЕРОДОВАЯ ИНФЕКЦИЯ
Polish Gorączka połogowa, Zakażenie okołoporodowe, Zakażenie połogowe
Hungarian Puerperalis fertőzések, Puerperalis fertőzés
Japanese 感染症-産褥, 産褥感染症, サンジョクキカンセン, 産褥期感染, 産じょく感染症, 産褥感染
Norwegian Barselfeber, Barseltidsinfeksjoner, Puerperale infeksjoner
Dutch puerperale infectie, infectie; puerperaal, puerperium; infectie, puerperiuminfecties, Infectie, puerperale, Puerperale infectie
German Puerperalinfektion, Puerperalinfektionen, Puerperale Infektion, Wochenbettinfektionen
Portuguese Infecção puerperal, Infecções puerperais, Infecção Puerperal
Spanish Infección puerperal, Infecciones puerperales, Infección Puerperal
French Infections puerpérales, Fièvre puerpérale, Infection puerpérale

Ontology: Maternal pyrexia (C0574078)

Concepts Finding (T033)
SnomedCT 297224001
English Maternal pyrexia (context-dependent category), Maternal pyrexia (situation), Maternal pyrexia
Spanish pirexia materna (situación), pirexia materna (categoría dependiente del contexto), pirexia materna

Ontology: pyrexia; during labor (C1405935)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
English pyrexia; during labor
Dutch pyrexie; tijdens bevalling