Puerperal pyrexia and infection

Abstract

The puerperal woman with a pyrexia has an infection and for treatment to be effective it is necessary to investigate fully the nature, site and cause of the infection and whenever possible to identify the responsible agent and its source. ‘Childbed fever’ and the ‘one-child sterility’ due to bilateral tubal occlusion which ensued, fortunately are conditions of the past in most countries but infection still remains a hazard to both mother and the baby. Puerperal pyrexia used to be a notifiable disease in the United Kingdom and was then defined as a temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C), or more occurring within 14 days of childbirth or miscarriage. Furthermore, the midwife’s code of practice made it obligatory for a doctor to be informed if a patient’s temperature was 99.4 °F (37.4 °C) or more on 3 successive days. Although puerperal pyrexia is no longer notifiable, the temperature levels quoted remain a most useful guide to alert the attendant to the possibility of significant infection.