Contents:
- Medical Video: Managing Meningitis - Mayo Clinic
- When can sepsis in newborns occur?
- 1. Early onset neonatal sepsis
- 2. Late onset neonatal sepsis
- Symptoms and effects of sepsis in newborns
- Risk factors for sepsis in newborns
- Handling of neonatal sepsis
Medical Video: Managing Meningitis - Mayo Clinic
The development of the immune system (immune) of humans has begun since birth or the neonatal phase where the baby's body is still very susceptible to infection. The baby's immune system can respond to an infection, but on the other hand the immune response is also at risk of causing sepsis in newborns.
Sepsis is a serious condition that occurs when the immune system aggressively responds to an infection in the body and actually causes damage that can threaten the life of a newborn. Sepsis starts when chemical compounds from the immune system are released into the circulatory system and eventually cause various serious inflammatory reactions in the body. In newborns, sepsis is usually caused by a bacterial infection.
When can sepsis in newborns occur?
Sepsis in newborns can occur during labor and is less than three days after birth. Both of these are differentiated into neonatoral sepsis onset of onset and late onset.
1. Early onset neonatal sepsis
This type of sepsis occurs when bacteria attack the baby during the normal (vaginal) delivery process. Symptoms of sepsis generally appear the first six hours after the baby is born. Various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are associated with infection and sepsis in newborns.
Well, the most common is streptococcus group B and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Bacterial colonization of the mother's baby's vagina can increase the risk of sepsis in newborns.
2. Late onset neonatal sepsis
In general, sepsis is caused by a bacterial infection in the environment where the newborn is located, such as the hospital environment. Most infections are caused by various types of germs Staphylococcus and E. coli which is contagious from the use of intravascular devices and infections Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the use of breathing apparatus in infants.
Birth characteristics such as birth weight can affect the occurrence of sepsis infection. The risk of sepsis is higher in babies born prematurely and experiencing low birth weight.
Symptoms and effects of sepsis in newborns
Signs of the development of sepsis conditions in newborns tend to be less specific. However, this includes several symptoms that can be observed in infants such as:
- Babies look lethargic or not powerful
- Do not want to breastfeed
- The body tends to be cold due to low body temperature
- Have symptoms of apnea or shortness of breath
- Having a fever for no apparent reason
- The skin looks pale and doesn't look healthy
- There is swelling around the abdomen
- Throws up
- Having diarrhea
- Seizures
- Looks nervous
- Symptoms of jaundice in the eyes and skin
Sepsis in newborns is one of the main causes of death in infants. Infection of the brain membrane can also occur as a complication of the condition of sepsis. In addition, sepsis can also be a cause of growth disorders because babies do not get optimal nutrition when diarrhea or do not want to breastfeed when they are new.
Risk factors for sepsis in newborns
In early onset, sepsis is related to the birth process. Early onset sepsis is most at risk when the breakdown of the membranes of the membranes occurs faster before the birth process begins, premature delivery, and the presence of bacterial colonization on the vaginal birth route of pregnant women during the delivery process.
Whereas in the late onset, treatment of newborns in hospitals can increase the risk of sepsis. Such as the length of time to be treated after birth, too long using an intravascular catheter, experiencing problems related to infection at birth, close to other people who are sick, and the use of non-sterile intravenous instruments and fluids.
Handling of neonatal sepsis
Appropriate early treatment is needed to overcome the condition of sepsis and prevent other health problems in infants. Determination of the diagnosis of sepsis is based on symptoms and blood tests to see whether or not there are bacteria in the blood. This is very important in making decisions about the advanced handling needed by the baby.
Handling of sepsis in infants with infusion antibiotics can be done after the type of bacteria has been identified and the possibility of treatment can be adjusted. In addition, the use of ventilators, intravenous fluids, and assistants in the blood circulation system may also be needed. Early treatment that is done right can make a baby recover completely without any inherent impact in the future.
