Childbed fever or puerperal fever is an infection that occurs in the reproductive system of women after childbirth. Although the number of cases has almost disappeared, it does not mean that women can no longer get it. Historically, puerperal fever was responsible for the death of Jane Seymour, Isabella Beeton and Mary Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft.
The infection is common during the 17th century, when it was commonly called childbed fever. It is known to have caused epidemics during the era. Then, doctors and midwives with dirty hands and medical instruments are seen as the culprits for the infection, which is commonly caused by the bacteria staphylococcus and streptococcus.
According to a report from the Department of Health, 16 women perish from puerperal fever between 1994 and 1996 in the UK. The same report warns that the disease is still present in modern times and that general practitioners and midwives should be aware of it.
Although deaths from the disease are rare, 50,000 of mothers are still affected by group B streptococcus annually. Although the bacteria is generally found in the vagina and intestines of healthy women, it is still considered one of the most common bacteria blamed for puerperal fever and infection, which occur two weeks after childbirth or abortion. Although the uterus is the one that usually gets infected, injuries to the genital tract can function as medium for breeding.
However, it is important to note that a fever after childbirth does not always mean there is an infection in the genital tract as infection of the breast, the urinary system or infection from wounds are also possible or that the mother has a simple case of the flu.
It’s towards the latter part of the 19th century that Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweiz first observed that childbed fever is passed through the hands of birth assistants. He recommended that they cleanse their hands with chloride or lime. Semmelweiz’s observations proved to be right as the death rate from childbed fever declined.
oday’s doctors may rarely encounter an incident of puerperal sepsis, but still, they are well-aware of such an infection and are sufficiently trained to cope should such case arise, according to a consultant obstetrician named Dr Gabrielle Downey of City Hospital in Birmingham. However, she believes that it is possible that there is not enough screening for B. streptococcus among pregnant women. In her hospital, Dr. Downey makes it a point to screen all women who have had problems with B. strep on a monthly basis.
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