Signs of early neonatal infection

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Early neonatal sepsis (also known as mother-infant infection) is an infection that occurs within the first 3 days after birth. The most common clinical form is sepsis. More than 30% of newborn deaths are due to neonatal infections. After being born, many babies sleep so hard to wake up, stop nursing, ... Mothers do not rush to rejoice because they think the baby is good. These may be the first signs of a newborn infection.

1. Clinical manifestations of early neonatal sepsis

Symptoms are often poor, atypical. Possible early neonatal signs of infection:
Temperature instability: fever or hypothermia may occur. Possible weight loss Respiration: Cyanosis, dyspnea, moaning, tachypnea > 60 breaths/minute + traction, apnea > 15 seconds. Cardiovascular: pallor, skin rash, tachycardia > 160 beats/min, cold extremities, time to return to pink skin lasts > 3s, blood pressure drops. Digestion: Poor suckling, aborting, abdominal distention, vomiting, diarrhea, gastric juice stasis > 2/3 of the pumped milk of the previous meal. Liver and spleen enlarged Skin and mucous membranes: Pale skin, purple veins, rash, hemorrhage, early jaundice before 24 hours, scleroedema, purulent dermatitis, umbilical inflammation. There may be purpura, subcutaneous hematoma, bleeding in many places. Nervous: Increased or decreased muscle tone, excitability, convulsions, fontanelle bulge, decreased reflexes, coma.

2. So why do babies get neonatal infections?

Babies can be infected through the following ways:
Neonatal infection transmitted by blood from mother to baby is a transmission that occurs before birth, often with agents such as: congenital syphilis, HIV, Rubeola , Cytimegalo virus, Toxoplasmo.
NTSS is transmitted through the amniotic route: Due to urinary tract infection, maternal genitalia, mother with cervical cleft, premature rupture of membranes, premature rupture of membranes, dirty amniotic fluid, many vaginal examinations, unexplained fetal distress.
Transmission by contact at birth: When passing through the uterus, vagina, vulva during prolonged labor.
Due to the environment: causing postpartum sepsis. Indirect transmission through items such as needles, syringes, catheters, gastric catheterization, not washing hands when in contact with patients, contaminated environment. Increased risk of long hospital stay, asphyxia, delivery room resuscitation, prematurity, low birth weight.

3. So how do you know if your child has an infection?

Signs and symptoms used to identify neonatal sepsis are poor, atypical, varied, and easily overlap with other diseases. The child may be unwell: less active, less active than usual.
In more severe cases, the child may have fever or hypothermia, jaundice, poor feeding, or stop feeding. Children may experience shortness of breath (rapid breathing, abnormally concave chest and abdomen), abdominal distension, diarrhea, and bloody sputum. Children may show signs of local infection: skin, navel, eyes.

4. So when do you need to bring your child for medical examination?

Take the child to the hospital without delay when the child has:
Difficulty breathing. Convulsions. Fever or hypothermia. Bleed. Diarrhea. Too low weight, just gave birth. Can't breastfeed at all. Take the baby to a medical facility as quickly as possible if the child:
Difficulty suckling, giving up. Eye pus. Skin pustules. Jaundice. The navel is red or oozing pus. Feed less than 5 times in 24 hours

5. How to prevent infections in babies

Prenatal prevention
Mothers need to be vaccinated against Rubella in the unborn age. Vaccinate against tetanus and hepatitis to avoid transmitting the virus to the baby through blood. During pregnancy, mothers should have regular antenatal check-ups to detect dangerous diseases such as syphilis, hepatitis B, etc. there is an early solution without affecting the fetus. When the mother has an infection such as a urogenital infection, a systemic infection, it must be treated at the root to avoid transmitting it to the child later. Ensure the mother a safe nutritional regime during pregnancy to increase the resistance of the mother and the baby, prevent malnutrition in the mother, prevent premature birth because premature babies are very susceptible to infection and mortality. due to infection in this subject accounted for about 12%. In addition, the mother also needs good body hygiene, avoiding scratches and infections. At the same time, it is necessary to handle cases of premature rupture of membranes, avoiding prolonged labor.
Prevention during childbirth
Doctors need to ensure sterility during the birth, medical tools when used must be guaranteed to avoid infection. Avoid obstetric complications such as asphyxia, injury during delivery. For pregnant women with difficult birth, prolonged labor, premature rupture of membranes, doctors should not examine the vagina repeatedly. Postpartum prevention
The simple and effective measure to prevent infection in the baby is that mothers should wash their hands before and after caring for the newborn. Regularly clean the room, bathing equipment for the baby, keep the room ventilated, clean, and full of light so that germs do not have the conditions to multiply. Regularly clean the baby's skin, eyes, ears and navel. The most important thing is to breastfeed the baby exclusively for the first 6 months.. Neonatal infection is very dangerous, mothers need to carefully observe their baby's symptoms, if there are any abnormal signs listed. Above, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor to ensure the safety of the baby.
Specialist Doctor I Bui Thi Ha has over 11 years of experience working in the field of Pediatrics - Neonatology; proficiently perform basic pediatric techniques and advanced, intensive and modern techniques such as mechanical ventilation, longline, blood exchange, invasive arterial blood pressure measurement, etc. Currently, the doctor is a Doctor. Pediatrics - Newborns, Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital
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