Neonatal sepsis is a blood infection that occurs in newborns. This infection can cause damage to various organs of the baby's body. WHO estimates that around 3 million infants worldwide die from neonatal sepsis each year.
Neonatal sepsis is generally caused by a bacterial infection. However, in certain cases, neonatal sepsis can also be caused by viral and fungal infections. If left untreated, this infectious disease can cause disability and even death in infants.
Symptoms of Neonatal Sepsis
Symptoms of sepsis in infants tend to be non-specific. This causes babies with sepsis to be mistaken for other disorders, such as pneumonia or cerebral hemorrhage.
When exposed to neonatal sepsis, babies may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Decreased or increased body temperature (fever)
- Baby looks yellow
- Throws up
- Weak and unresponsive
- Not wanting to breastfeed
- Diarrhea
- Swollen belly
- Heart rate is fast or slow
- convulsions
- Pale or bluish skin
- Hard to breathe
- Low blood sugar
Causes of Neonatal Sepsis
Based on the time of infection, neonatal sepsis in infants is divided into two, namely:
Infection occurs during deliveryearly onset)
Neonatal sepsis that occurs after delivery is caused by a bacterial infection originating from the mother's body, such as: Group B Streptococcus (GBS), E. coli, and Staphylococcus. This infection can occur within a short time, ie 24-72 hours after delivery.
In addition to bacteria, herpes simplex virus (HSV) or other viruses can also cause severe infections in newborns.
The risk of this type of neonatal sepsis is higher if the baby is born prematurely, has infection of the placenta and amniotic fluid, and is born to a mother who experienced premature rupture of membranes more than 18 hours before delivery.
Infection occurs after deliverylate onset)
Occurs within 4–90 days after the baby is born. The germs that cause these infections often come from the environment, for example: Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. Apart from bacteria, fungi Candida It can also cause sepsis in babies.
The risk of contracting this type of neonatal sepsis will increase if your child stays in the hospital for a long period of time, is born prematurely, or is born with a low birth weight.
Handling of Neonatal Sepsis in Babies
If your child has neonatal sepsis, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Infants with neonatal sepsis need close care and evaluation in the hospital. Not infrequently, babies with neonatal sepsis need to be treated in the infant ICU or NICU.
During hospitalization, infants with neonatal sepsis will be given antibiotics and closely monitored by doctors. Antibiotics can be given for 7-10 days, if no bacterial growth is found on blood or brain fluid culture examination.
If bacteria are found on examination by a pediatrician, antibiotics can be given for up to 3 weeks. Meanwhile, if neonatal sepsis is caused by the HSV virus, the baby will be given antiviral drugs acyclovir.
In addition to being given medication, the doctor will also monitor the baby's vital signs and blood pressure, as well as perform a complete blood count. If the baby's body temperature is unstable, he can be put in an incubator.
Neonatal sepsis is a serious condition and is still one of the leading causes of death in infants. Therefore, pregnant women need to have regular pregnancy check-ups with a doctor or midwife
In addition, make sure pregnant women are assisted by professional health workers during childbirth. With examination and treatment as early as possible, your little one will be prevented from the risk of neonatal sepsis.