Generally, a baby's immune system takes about six months after birth to become fully developed. In the meantime, they have to rely on the mother's breast milk to help supply the immune system antibodies. Thus, the time right after birth is dangerous for a newborn because it does not have very many antibodies yet to help fight off diseases. If a newborn contracts a bacterial infection, it can turn into a deadly case of sepsis.
Sepsis occurs when the bloodstream gets infected with bacteria. It is a particularly dangerous type of infection since the blood is circulated throughout the body. Thus, since nearly every cell comes into contact with the bloodstream, the bacteria that causes sepsis can quickly spread throughout a baby's body, infecting important organs and possibly even the brain.
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Because parents have yet to get to know their newborn baby, it can be difficult to discern when a child has contracted an infection of the bloodstream. You may notice fever, rapid heartbeat, listlessness, loss of appetite and sometimes a rash. If your baby is showing these symptoms, it is key to go to the hospital so that your newborn can be treated immediately with intravenous antibiotics and placed on oxygen. Additionally, if the infection is in the abdomen, it may have to be drained.
When sepsis becomes severe, it can cause an extreme drop in blood pressure which may result in the loss of consciousness. This condition is called septic shock or the person is said to have become septic. In these cases, the baby may have to have a intravenous saline infusion to help return the blood pressure to normal. The shock itself is either caused by your body trying to defend itself or the actual toxins produced by the infecting agent.
Prematurely born babies are at higher risk for developing sepsis than full-term children. Additionally, preemies are more likely to develop early-onset sepsis in the first few days of life. The factors that can increase a newborn's chance to have sepsis include a group B streptococcus infection in the mother, as well as premature rupture of the membranes (such as amniotic sac) and other maternal infections such as E. coli.
Late-onset sepsis can hit babies that are at least one week old. However, many of these infections stem from the baby's treatment in the hospital following delivery. For instance, prolonged use of a catheter, the use of an endotracheal tube and ventilator, and even a longer-than-normal stay in the hospital can all increase the newborn's risk of developing sepsis.
Doctors should handle babies with care so that they do not develop a life-threatening birth infection such as sepsis. If your medical caregiver has acted in a negligent way, resulting in sepsis in your precious newborn, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
For more information, contact a birth injury attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today to discuss your options.