Aetiology
Possible causes of puerperal pyrexia include :
- genital tract infection - on examination the woman may have a bulky tender uterus. There may be perineal infection without involvement of the upper genital tract
- urinary tract infection
- deep vein thrombosis
- mastitis
- respiratory tract infection - this is more common after anaesthesia.
- non-puerperal related causes eg appendicitis
- anaemia
The commonest organisms are, in order of prevalence:
- Streptococci - both anaerobic and occasionally the beta-haemolytic streptococcus, e.g. S.agalactiae
- staphylococci
- coliforms
- anaerobes eg bacteroides
- chlamydia
- mycoplasma
- Clostridium welchii - very rare, but can cause a serious genital tract infection
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