Neonatal sepsis occurs in infants under 90 days old. Early onset sepsis occurs within the first week of a baby’s life, whereas late-onset sepsis occurs after the first week and before the three-month mark.
The most common bacteria behind neonatal sepsis include E coli, streptococcus and listeria. Often, babies with late-onset neonatal sepsis became infected in the hospital.
Risk factors of sepsis
In early onset bacterial sepsis, the infant’s risk becomes worse during preterm deliveries, when the water breaks longer than 18 hours before birth or when an infection occurs in the placenta tissues.
If your baby needs to stay in the hospital for an extended time, he or she may have a higher chance of developing an infection. Likewise, a catheter in your baby’s blood vessels could cause a septic infection.
Symptoms of neonatal sepsis
Babies with neonatal sepsis may have body temperature changes, breathing problems, low blood sugar, reduced sucking, vomiting and jaundice. High fevers and sepsis can also cause a patient to have seizures. Babies require prompt treatment to fight the infection. Babies under four weeks old may receive IV injections right away. Unfortunately, an infection can lead to disabilities or death. If the infection spreads, it can shock the baby’s entire system.
Sepsis can become worse quickly. Your doctors should react immediately to a child who may have sepsis. Without treatment, neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of death in young babies. If your baby shows signs of sepsis after arriving home, he or she needs to return to the hospital.
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